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AMEBICAN" 


BEING  A  COLLECTIOJf 


I^ATIVE  MEDICINAL  PLANTS 


UNITED  STATES, 


CONTAINING  THEIR 

BOTANICAL  HISTORY  AND  CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS, 

AND  PROPERTIES  AND  USES 

IN 

MEDICINE,  DIET  AND  THE  ARTS, 

WITH 

COLOURED  ENGRAVINGS. 

BY  JACOB  BIGELQW,  M.  D. 

HUMFOKD  PKOFKSSOR  AND  lECTUKER  ON  ^rATERTA  MEBICA  AND  BOTANY 
IN  HAKVAllD  UNIVERSITY. 

yoL.  I 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  CUMMINGS  AND  HIELIARD,  AT  THE 
BOSTON  BOOKSTORE,  NO.  1   CORNHIIL. 

TJNiyERSITK   PHESS....HIM.IAHO  AND  METCALF. 
1818. 


KZ-J 


DISTRICT  OF  :MASSACHUSETTS,  TO  WIl  : 

District  Clerk's  Office. 

BE  it  remombei-ed,  that  on  the  twenty'  eighth  day  of  October,  A.  D,  1818,  and  in  the  forty  third 
year  ol'  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  Jacob  Bigelow,  M.  D.  of  the  said  dis- 
trict, has  deposited  in  this  office  the  title  of  a  book,  the  right  whereof  he  claims  as  author,  in  the 
words  follov.mg,  viz. 

"  American  Medical  Botany,  being  a  collection  of  the  native  medicinal  plants  of  the  United  States, 
containing  their  botanical  history  and  chemical  analysis,  and  properties  and  uses  in  medicine,  diet 
and  the  arts,  T\ith  coloured  engi-avings.  By  Jacob  Bigelow,  M.  D.  Rumford  Professor  and  Lec- 
turer on  Materia  Medica  and  13otany  in  Harvard  University.    Vol.  II." 

In  conformity  to  the  Act  of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  entitled  "  An  Act  for  the  en- 
couragement of  learning,  by  securing  the  copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the  authors  and 
propiietors  of  such  copies,  during  the  times  therein  mentioned  :"  and  also  to  an  act  entitled,  "  An 
act  supplementai-y  to  an  act  entitled,  an  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning,  by  securing  the 
copies  of  maps,  charts  and  books,  to  the  authors  and  proprietors  of  such  copies  during  the  times 
therein  mentioned ;  and  extendmg  the  benefits  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engraving  and 
etching  historical  and  other  printj. 


TOHVW  TiAVT«;  S  Clerk  of  the  District 
JOHN  W.  DAY  lb,  ^   of  Massachusetts. 


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PI  .1 . 


Tio.h 


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^  ^y//^i. 


■^f  fr/  /y/t  //  ///  ///  /  J  , 


AMEEICAN 


MEDICAL  BOTANY. 


DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

Thorn  Jipple, 

PLATE  I. 

1  HE  Datura  Stramonium,  is  a  wandering  an- 
nual plant,  which  follows  tlie  progress  of  culti- 
vation, and  is  rarelj  found  remote  from  the  vi- 
cinity of  dwellings.  It  occurs  in  every  part  of 
the  Atlantic  coast  from  Maine  to  the  Floridas, 
and  is  also  found  in  the  Western  States  in  the 
neighbourhood  of  settlements.  Its  favorite  haunts 
are  the  borders  of  fields  and  roadsides,  among 
rubbish  and  in  neglected  spots  of  I'ich  ground. 
It  emigrates  with  great  facility,  and  often  springs 
up  in  the  ballast  of  ships,  and  in  earth  carried 
from  one  country  to  another.  This  circumstance 
in  Europe  has  undeservedly  given  rise  to  the 
opinion,  that  it  is  originally  an  American  plant. 
Its    native   country,  however,  is    doubtful,   from 


18  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

tlie  want  of  autlientic  descriptions  of  sufficient 
antiquity.  One  of  the  oldest  satisfactory  accounts 
of  it  is  that  of  Gerarde  in  1597,  wlio  has  published 
a  description  and  figure  of  this  plant,  and  states 
that  it  was  introduced  into  England  by  himself, 
from  seeds  received froniConstantinople.  [JVb^e  A.] 

Its  common  name  in  Europe,  derived  from 
the  form  of  its  fruit,  is  Thorn  apple.  In  this 
country  its  provincial  names  are  Apple  of  Perif,  J)e- 
tWs  apple^  and  Jamestown  weed.  It  is  a  plant  of 
rank  growth  and  luxuriant  foliage,  varying  in  height 
from  one  to  six  feet,  according  to  the  soil  in  which 
it  grows.  In  Carolina  it  begins  to  flower  in  May, 
and  in  Massachusetts  about  the  latter  part  of  Ju- 
ly, and  continues  until  the  arrival  of  frosts. 

The  Datura  Stramonium  belongs  to  the  first 
order  of  the  fifth  class  in  the  Linnsean  artificial 
arrangement.  In  its  natural  order  it  is  found 
among  the  Luridge  of  Linnseus  and  the  Solanese 
of  Jussieu.  The  following  are  the  essential 
anarks  which  characterize  the  genus  Datura.  The 
corolla  funnel  form  and  plaited.  The  calyao  tu- 
hulart  angular  and  deciduous.  The  capsule  four 
TaZred.— Under  this  genus  are  comprehended  a 
number  of  species,  a  great  part  of  which  are  na- 
tives of  warm  latitudes.  The  species  Stramoni- 
um is  distinguished  from  the  rest  by  the  follow- 


THORN  APPLE.  19 

ing  character.  Capsules  thorny,  erect,  ovate;  leaves 
ovate,  angular,  smooth. — A  more  particular  de- 
scription of  tlie  plant  is  as  follows.  Stem  erect, 
simple  at  bottom,  much  branched  at  top  by  repeat- 
ed forks,  smooth  or  slightly  pubescent,  hollow  in 
the  large  plants,  often  solid  in  small  ones.  Leaves 
given  off  from  the  forks  of  the  stem,  five  or  six 
inches  long,  acute,  irregularly  sinuated  and  tooth- 
ed, with  large  acute  teeth  and  round  sinuses,  the 
sides  of  the  base  extending  unequally  down  the 
petiole.  Flowers  single,  axillary,  on  short  stalks, 
erect  or  nodding.  Calyx  composed  of  one  leaf, 
tubular,  with  five  angles  and  five  teeth,  deciduous 
by  breaking  off  from  its  base.  Corolla  funnel 
shaped  with  a  long  tube,  five  angled,  its  margin 
waved  and  folded,  and  terminating  in  five  acumi- 
nate teeth.  Stamens  growing  to  the  tube  by  their 
filaments,  with  oblong  erect  anthers.  Germ  su- 
perior, hairy  with  tlie  rudiments  of  spines,  ovate  ; 
style  as  long  as  the  stamens ;  stigma  obtuse^ 
parted  at  base.  Capsule  ovate,  fleshy,  covered 
with  thorns,  four  valved,  four  celled,  opening  at 
top.  Seeds  numerous,  reniform,  black,  attached 
to  a  longitudinal  receptacle,  which  occupies  the 
centre  of  each  cell. 

At  least  two  distinct  varieties  of  Datura  Stra-> 
monium  are  common  in  the  United  States.     One 


20  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

of  these  has  a  green  stalk  and  white  flowers,  and 
agrees  with  the  figures  of  Sowerhj  and  Woodville, 
except  that  the  anthers  are  somewhat  longer  and 
the  dissepiment  of  the  capsule  thinner.     The  sec- 
ond variety,  the  one  represented  in  our  figure, 
has  a  dark  reddish  stem,  minutely  dotted  with 
green  ;  and  purple  flowers  striped  with  deep  pur- 
ple inside.     It  is  generally  a  larger  plant,  and  its 
stem  more  universally  hollow.      This  variety  is 
probably  the  D.  tatula  of  Linnseus,  answering  to 
the  description  in  the  Species  plantarum.      The 
distinguishing  marks  laid  down  between  the  two 
plants  are  not  sufficient  to  make  them  distinct 
species.      I   have   cultivated   both  together  and 
watched  them  throughout  their  growth,  without 
being  able  to  detect  any  difference  except  in  col- 
our.    Their  sensible  and  medical  properties  are 
the  same.     Sir  James  Edward  Smith  has  lately 
informed  me,  that  on  consulting  the  herbarium  of 
Linnseus,  the  original  specimens  of  D.  Stramoni- 
um and  tatula  did  not  appear  to  be  more  than  va- 
rieties of  the  same  plant.     [JVofe  B.] 

Every  part  of  the  Stramonium,  when  recent, 
has  a  strong,  heavy,  disagreeable  odour,  and  a 
bitter,  nauseous  taste.  Taken  internally  it  proves 
a  violent  narcotic  poison,  affecting  the  mind  and 
body  in  the  most  powerful  manner.     Its  usual 


THORN  APPLE.  31 

consequences    when  swallowed   in   considerable 
quantity,  are  vertigo  and  confusion  of  mind,  in- 
sensibility of  the  retina,  occasioning  dilatation  of 
the  pupil  and  loss  of  sight,  tremors  of  the  limbs 
and  loss  of  the  power  of  voluntary  motion,  head- 
ach,  dryness  of  the  throat,  nausea  and  vomiting, 
anxiety  and  faintness,  and  sometimes  furious  de- 
lirium.    If  the  amount  taken  be  large  and  not 
speedily  ejected  from  the  stomach,  the  symptoms 
pass  into  convulsions  or  lethargic  stupor,  which 
continue  till  death.     When  not  fatal,  its  effects, 
like  those  of  other  narcotics,  are  temporary,  dis- 
appearing in  from  one  to  two  days,  and  frequent- 
ly in  a  shorter  period. — The  remedies  to  be  re- 
sorted to  in  cases  of  poison  from  Stramonium,  are 
a  prompt  emetic,  followed  by  a  free  use  of  vegeta- 
ble acids  and  strong  coffee. 

Many  stories  have  been  related  of  the  power 
of  this  and  other  species  of  Datura  to  produce 
mental  alienation,  without  at  the  same  time  ma- 
terially affecting  the  body.  [JVbfe  C]  These  ac- 
counts are  generally  of  somewhat  ancient  date,  and 
not  correspondent  with  the  observations  of  later 
physicians.  They  were  suited  to  those  days  of 
credulity,  in  which  the  Eoyal  Society  of  London 
gravely  inquired  of  Sir  Philberto  Vernatti,  "Wheth- 
er  the  Indians  can  ^  so  prepare    the   stupifyin.c^^ 


22  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

herb  Datura,  tliat  they  make  it  lie  several  days, 
months,  or  years,  according  as  they  will  have  it, 
in  a  man's  body  ;  and  at  the  end  kill  him  with- 
out missing  half  an  hour's  time  ?" 

Like  opium  and  like  other  powerful  medi- 
cines, this  plant,  when  taken  in   small  quantity, 
and  under  suitable  regulations,  proves  a  remedy 
of  importance,  and  a  useful  agent  in  the  hands  of 
physicians.     In  common  with  some  other  narco- 
tics, it  seems  first  to  have  been  introduced  freely 
into  practice  by  Baron  Storck  of  Vienna,  as  a  rem- 
edy in  Mania,  Epilepsy,  Convulsions,  ^c.     Many 
subsequent  physicians  have  given  testimony  to  its 
efficacy  in  certain  forms  of  these  disorders,  yet  the 
instances  of  its  failure  have  doubtless  been  more 
frequent  than  those  of  its  success.     In  Murray's 
Apparatus  Medicaminum  may  be  found  a  sum- 
mary of  the  reports  of  many  medical  men,  who 
have  tried  it  with  various  success  in  the  diseases 
in  question,  as  well  as  in  others.     Dr.  CuUen  has 
no  doubt  that  it  may  be  a  remedy  in  certain  ca- 
ses of  mania  and  epilepsy  ;  but  doubts  if  any  per- 
son has  learned  to  distinguish  the  cases  to  which 
it  is  properly  adapted. 

Dr.  Fisher,  President  of  the  Massachusetts 
Medical  Society,  has  published  in  theu*  communi- 
cations some  remarks  on  the  employment  of  Stra- 


THORN  APPLE.  23 

inonium  in  epilepsy.  He  divides  the  cases  of 
that  disease  into  tliree  kinds  ;  tliose  of  which  the 
fits  return  daily ;  those  in  which  they  recur  at 
regular  periods,  as  monthly,  or  give  warning  of 
their  approach  by  previous  symptoms  ;  lastly, 
those  in  which  they  do  not  observe  any  regular 
period,  and  do  not  give  any  warning  of  their  ap- 
proach. In  the  two  first  kinds  he  asserts,  that  all 
the  cases  which  came  under  his  care,  and  which 
were  not  very  few,  had  been  cured  by  Stramoni- 
um. In  those  of  the  third  kind  he  found  it  of  no 
benefit  whatever. 

Dr.  Archer  of  Maryland  has  formed  distinc- 
tions nearly  similar  in  the  application  of  Stramo- 
nium to  epilepsy. 

In  a  case  of  Tic  doloureux  of  loner  standing  I 
found  the  extract,  taken  in  as  large  doses  as  the 
stomach  would  bear,  to  afford  decided  relief.  Sev- 
eral practitioners  have  spoken  to  me  of  its  effica- 
cy in  this  formidable  disease.  It  should  be  ta- 
ken in  large  doses,  and  the  system  kept  for  some 
time  under  its  influence. 

Within  a  few  years,  the  thorn  apple  has  at- 
tracted much  notice,  both  in  Europe  and  in  this 
country,  as  an  efficacious  palliative  in  Asthma 
and  some  other  affections  of  the  lungs,  when  used 
by  smoking,  in   the   same   manner  as   tobacco. 


24f  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

The  practice  was  first  suggested  by  the  employ- 
ment of  another  species,  the  Datura  ferooo^  for 
similar  complaints,  in  the  East  Indies.  An  En- 
glish gentleman,  having  exhausted  the  stock  with 
which  he  had  been  supplied  of  the  oriental  plant, 
was  advised  by  Dr.  Sims  to  have  recourse  to  the 
common  Stramonium  as  a  substitute  ;  and  upon 
trial,  experienced  the  same  benefit  as  he  had  done 
from  the  former  species.  This  instance  of  suc- 
cess led  to  further  trials,  and  in  a  short  time  sev- 
eral publications  appeared,  containing  cases  of 
great  relief  afforded  by  smoking  this  plant  in  the 
paroxysms  of  Asthma.  Many  individuals,  of  dif- 
ferent ages,  habits,  and  constitutions,  had  used  it 
with  the  effect  of  producing  immediate  relief,  and 
of  terminating  the  paroxysm  in  a  short  time. 
The  efiicacy  however  of  this  medicine  was  called 
in  question  by  Dr.  Bree,  a  physician  well  known 
by  his  elaborate  treatise  on  Asthma,  who  publish- 
ed in  the  Medical  and  Physical  Journal  a  letter, 
containing  the  result  of  a  great  number  of  unsuc- 
cessful trials  of  Stramonium  in  asthmatic  cases. 
It  may  be  doubted  whether  any  other  physician 
has  been  so  unfortunate  in  its  use  as  Dr.  Bree, 
since  he  affirms  tliat  not  one  case  of  those  under 
his  care  was  benefitted  by  it.  Certain  it  is,  that  in 
this   country  the  thorn  apple  is  employed  with 


THOBN  APPLE.  gg 

very  frequent  success  by  asthmatic  patients,  and 
It  would  not  be  diffictdt  to  designate  a  dozen  indi- 
viduals in  Boston  and  its  vicinity,  who  are  in  the 
habit  of  employing  it  with  unfailing  relief  in  the 
paroxysms  of  tliis  distressing  complaint.     The  ca- 
ses,  which  it  is  fitted  to  reliere,  are  those  of  pure 
spasmodic  asthma,  in  which  it  doubtless  acts  by 
its  sedative  and  antispasmodic  effects.     In  those 
depending  upon  effusion  of  serum  in  the  lungs, 
or  upon  the  presence  of  exciting  causes  in  the' 
first  passages,    or    elsewhere,  requiring  to   be 
removed ;  it  must  not  be  expected  that  remedies 
of  th,s  class  can  afford  benefit.     In  several  cases 
of   plethoric   and    intemperate  people,    I   have 
tound  It  fad  altogether,   and  venesection  after- 
wards to  give  speedy  relief. 

The  part  of  the  plant,  which  I  have  employed 
for  smoking,  is  the  leaf  prepared  in  the  same  way 
as  tobacco.     The  root,  which  has  commonly  been 
the  part  used,  is  more  woody  and  fibrous,  and  pos- 
sesses  less  of  the  juices  of  the  plant,  than  its 
more  pulpy  and  succulent  parts.     The  root  also, 
bemg  strictly  annual,  has  no  opportunity  to  accu- 
mulate  the  virtues  of  the  plant,  beyond  any  other 
part. 

In  the  seventh  volume  of  the  Medico-Chirur- 
gical  Transactions,  for  1816,  is  a  paper  on  tlse 

4 


S6  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

properties  of  the  Stramonium  by  Dr.  Marcet  of 
London,  Physician  to  Guy's  Hospital.  As  the 
result  of  his  experience,  it  appeared  that  this 
medicine  taken  internally  had  relieved  acute 
pains  of  various  kinds  more  effectually  than  any 
other  narcotic  substance.  Its  usual  effects  under 
his  observation,  when  administered  in  appropriate 
doses,  in  chronic  diseases  attended  with  acute 
pain;  were,  to  lessen  powerfully  and  almost  imme- 
diately sensibility  and  pain ;  to  occasion  a  sort 
of  nervous  shock,  which  is  frequently  attended 
with  a  momentary  affection  of  the  head  and  eyes, 
with  a  degree  of  nausea,  and  with  phenomena  re- 
sembling those  produced  by  intoxication  ;  to  ex- 
cite in  many  instances  nervous  sensations,  which 
are  referred  to  the  oesophagus  or  bronchise  or  fau- 
ces, and  which  sometimes  amount  to  a  sense  like 
suffocation  ;  to  have  rather  a  relaxing,  than  an 
astringent  effect  on  the  bowels  ;  to  have  no  mark- 
ed influence  on  the  pulse,  except  in  a  few  instan- 
ces to  seem  to  render  it  slower ;  to  produce  but 
a  transitory  and  inconsiderable  dilatation  of  the 
pupil,  and  to  have  but  little  immediate  tendency 
to  produce  sleep,  except  from  the  state  of  com- 
parative serenity  and  ease,  which  follows  the  pre- 
ceding symptoms.' — In  some  instances  its  bene- 
ficial effects  were  obtained  without  the  ]>atient 
experiencing  any  of  the  uneasy  sensations  above 
mentioned. 


THORN  APPLE.  gi^ 

The  cases  in  which  Dr.  Marcet  employed  the 
Stramonium,  with  their  results,  appear  in  the  fol- 
lowing summary.     In  four  cases  of  Sciatica,  decide 
ed  benefit  was  obtained.     The  efficacy  of  the  med- 
icine was  still  more  strongly  marked  in  two  cases 
of  sciatica  combined  with  syphilitic  pains.     It 
failed  in  two  instances  of  diseased  hip  joint.     It 
produced  considerable  relief  of  pain  in  a  case  of 
supposed  disease  of  the  spine,  followed  hj  para» 
plegia  I    and   likewise  in  one  of  cancer  of  the 
breast.     It  allayed  materially  the  pain  occasioned 
hy  an  acute  uterine  disease.     It  was  of  great  and 
repeated  utility  in  a  case  of  Tie  doloureux,  its  utlL 
ity  in  a  second  case  of  the  same  description  was 
Tery  doubtful,  and  in  a  third  it  entirely  failed. 

There  are  some  authorities  for  the  success  of 
Stramonium  in  Chorea.      Professor  Chapman  of 
Philadelphia  has  found  it  of  use  in  dysmenorrhea, 
also  with  or  without  mercury  in  syphilitic  and 
scrophulous  ulcers  of  ill  condition. 

The  external  use  of  Stramonium  is  of  mucli 
older  date  than  its  internal  exhibition.  Gerarde 
in  his  Herbal,  published  in  1597,  says,  "The 
iuyce  of  Thorne  apples,  boiled  with  hog's  grease 
to  the  forme  of  an  unguent  or  salye,  cureth  ail  in. 
flammations  whatsoever,  all  manner  of  burnings  or 
Bcaldings,  and  that  in  yery  short  time,  as  mv^ 


28  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

self  liaye  found  by  my  dayly  practise,  to  my  great 
credit  and  profit."  Others,  since  the  time  of  Ge- 
rarde,  have  used  this  preparation,  if  not  with  the 
same  gratifying  success,  at  least  with  some  bene- 
fit as  an  anodyne,  sedative  application.  It  miti- 
gates the  pain  in  burns  and  inflammatory  tumors, 
and  promotes  the  cure  of  certain  cutaneous  erup- 
tions. In  some  irritable  ulcers  with  thickened 
edges  and  a  sanious  discharge^  I  have  found  it  re- 
markably efficacious  in  changing  the  condition 
and  promoting  the  granulations  and  cicatrization. 
In  painful  hemorrhoidal  tumors  the  ointment  of 
Stramonium  with  the  ointment  of  acetate  of  lead 
gives,  in  many  cases,  very  prompt  and  satisfacto- 
ry relief,  being  in  this  respect  inferior  to  no  ap- 
plication, with  which  I  have  been  acquainted. 

Applied  topically  to  the  eye,  the  preparations 
of  Stramonium  diminish  the  sensibility  of  the  re- 
tina, and  relax  the  iris.  From  this  effect  it  is 
employed  by  many  surgeons  to  dilate  the  pupil, 
as  preparatory  to  the  operation  for  cataract. 

The  virtues  of  Stramonium  appear  to  be  seat- 
ed in  an  extractive  principle,  which  dissolves  in 
water  and  alcohol,  but  most  readily  in  the  for- 
mer. It  is  copiously  precipitated  from  the  infu- 
sion by  muriate  of  tin.  With  sulphate  of  iron  it 
gives  a  deep  green  colour,  and  with  gelatin  suf- 


THORN  APPLE.  ^9 

fers  no  change.  Water  distilled  from  the  plant 
has  the  sensible  qualities  in  a  slight  degree,  but 
does  not  seem  to  possess  the  medicinal  po>yers  of 
the  plant.  Dr.  S.  Cooper,  in  a  valuable  disserta- 
tion  on  this  plant,  sajs,  that  an  ounce  of  the  dis- 
tilled water  was  taken  into  the  stomach  with  little 
or  no  effect.  The  same  gentleman  states,  that 
upon  evaporating  the  infusion  of  Stramonium,  he 
observed  a  large  number  of  minute  crystals,  re- 
sembling  particles  of  nitre.  Thinking  it  possible 
that  these  might  be  something  analogous  to  the 
crystals,  said  to  be  obtained  by  Derosne  from  opi- 
um, and  by  him  denominated  the  narcotic  princi- 
ple, I  repeated  the  experiment  by  carefully  evap- 
orating separate  decoctions  of  the  green  and  dri- 
ed leaves.  No  crystals  however  were  discovera- 
ble at  any  stage  of  the  process,  either  to  the 
touch,  or  to  the  eye  assisted  by  a  strong  magni- 
fier. 

The  forms  in  which  the  Stramonium  is  prepar- 
ed for  use  are  the  powder,  the  inspissated  juice, 
the  extract,  the  tincture  and  the  ointment.  The 
powder  should  be  made  as  soon  as  the  plant  is 
dry,  and  kept  in  close  stojjped  bottles. — The  in- 
spissated  juice  is  made  by  compressing  the  bruis- 
ed leaves  in  a  strong  bag,  until  the  juice  is  forced 
out.    This  is  to  be  evaporated  in  flat   vessels  at 


30  DATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

the  heat  of  boiling  salt  water  to  the  thickness  of 
honey ;  it  is  then  suffered  to  cool,  put  tip  in  glaz- 
ed vessels  and  moistened  with  alcohol.  The  ecC' 
tract  is  prepared  by  immersing  a  pound  of  the 
leaves  in  three  gallons  of  water  and  boiling  down 
to  one.  The  decoction  should  then  be  strained 
and  stand  six  hours  to  settle,  after  which  it  may 
be  drawn  off  and  evaporated  to  the  proper  consis- 
tence. When  the  seeds  are  used,  the  decoction 
should  stand  a  longer  time  to  separate  the  oil  with 
which  the  cotyledons  abound,  before  evaporation. 
A  larger  amount  of  extract  may  be  obtained  by 
boiling  the  portion,  which  has  been  used,  a  se- 
cond time  in  a  smaller  quantity  of  water,  and 
mixing  the  two  decoctions  before  evaporation. 
For  the  tincture  one  ounce  of  the  dried  leaves  is 
to  be  digested  for  a  week  in  eight  ounces  of  proof 
spirit,  and  filtrated  through  paper.  In  making 
the  ointment,  a  pound  of  the  fresh  leaves  may  be 
simmered  in  three  pounds  of  hog's  lard  until  the 
leaves  become  crisp.  It  is  then  to  be  strained? 
and  cooled  gradually. 

The  period  for  gathering  the  leaves  is  from 
the  time  the  plant  begins  to  flower,  until  the  ar- 
rival of  frost. 

As  the  preparations  of  Stramonium  are  liable 
to  vary  in  strength  according  to  the  circumstances 


^ 


THORN  APPLE.  31 

under  which  they  are  made,  it  is  always  prudent 
to  begin  with  the  smallest  dose,  and  repeat  it 
about  three  times  a  day,  increasing  each  dose  un- 
til the  effects  begin  to  appear  in  the  stomach  or 
head. 

The  commencing  doses  of  the  Stramonium, 
when  properly  prepared,  are  as  follows. 
Of  the  powdered  leaves  1  grain, 

powdered  seeds  |-  a  grain, 

inspissated  juice  or  extract  1  grain, 
extract  of  the  seeds  from  ^  to  j- grain, 

tincture  from  15  to  20 

drops. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Datura  Stramonium,  Linn^us  Sp,  pi.  Fl,  Suec.  185  «^c.— ^^ 
Gronovius  Fl.  Virg.  23. — GEdek.  Fl.  Danica  436. — Black- 
WELi.  t.  313. — Gmeiin  Iter  i.  43. — Poliich.  Palatin.  224. — 
HoFFMAiSTV  Germ.  77. — Roth  Fl.  Germ.  i.  92  Sfc. — WooDvrLLE 
t.  124, — Curtis  Lond.  vi.  t.  17. — Smith  Fl.  Brit.  254. — Engl. 
Bot.  t.  1288. — ^PuRSH  Amer.  141.— Ei^iott  Carol,  i.  275.— 
Stramonium  foliis  angulosis  &c.  Hailer  Helv.  586.  Nuci  metel- 
Ix  congener  planta,  Camerarius  Epitome  276. — Solanum  foeti- 
da  porno  spinoso,  oblongo,  &c.  BAUHiN^iw.  168. — Sti'amonium 
spinosum,  Gerarbe  Herbal  348. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Storck  de  Stramonio  Sfc. — Lindenstolpe  devenenis,  531.— 
Sauvages  JVosoL  2.  430. — Gredikg  in  Liidwigs  Adversaria  i. 
345. — Murray  App.Med.i.670. — Cvjj^n  Mat.  Med.  i'l.  281. — 
Fowler  in  Med.  Comment,  y.  161. — Odhelius  cii.  m  J^/ei.  Com- 
ment v.  161  i- — Papin"  in  Phil.  Trans,  abr.  vi.  53. — Rush  inFkilad. 


S2  iiATURA  STRAMONIUM. 

Trans,  i.  384. — Sclioepf.  24. — Wedenberg  in  Med.  Comment 
iii.l8. — ^Beverly,  Hist.  Virg.y.  121. — Medical  and  Physical 
Journal,  vol.  xxv.  &  xxvi.  in  various  places.  Cooper  in  CaldiveWs 
Theses,  vol.  i. — Earto^,  Coll.  Mat.  Med.  46. — Chapman  in  edit, 
Murray  146. — Thatcher,  Disp,  205. — Marcet  Medico-Chi-^ 
rur.  Trans,  vir. 


PLATE  I. 

Fig.  1,  »i  branch  of  Datura  Stramoniumf  the  purple  variety f  with 
leaves  and  fiowers. 

Fig.  2.  Stamens  and  style. 

Fig.  3.  Transverse  section  of  the  pericarp,  shewing  the  cellSf  re- 
ceptacles and  seeds. 


J-u^.J/. 


(^"L/i-a/cKfia^m     yi^^y^^/c'^^  ^^^  ^^^ 


34  EUPATORUM  PERFOLIATUM, 

its  style  longer  than  the  corolla,  and  cloven  half 
way  down.  The  species  perfoliatum,  exclusively 
an  inhabitant  of  America,  is  abundantly  distin- 
guished from  the  rest,  by  the  peculiar  form  of  its 
leaves,  indicated  in  its  name.  Michaux  has  alter- 
ed the  specific  name  to  connatum  I  think  injudi- 
ciously. 

The  stems  of  this  plant  are  erect,  round,  hairy 
branched  at  top  only.  The  leaves,  which  are  per- 
forated by  the  stem,  are  rather  perfoliate  than 
connate,  since  thev  have  not  the  character  of  two 
leaves  joined  together,  but  of  one  entire  leaf,  hav- 
ing its  four  principal  veins  proceeding  at  right  an- 
gles from  the  four  quarters  of  the  stem,  two  of 
them  being  situated  in  the  place  of  the  supposed 
junction.  The  upper  leaves  however  are  gener- 
ally divided  into  pairs.  The  main  leaves  are 
acuminate,  decreasing  gradually  in  breadth  from 
the  stem,  where  they  are  widest,  to  the  extremities. 
They  are  serrated,  wrinkled,  pale  underneath,  and 
hairy,  especially  on  the  veins.  Flowers  in  corymbs 
with  hairy  peduncles.  Calyx  cylindrical,  imbri- 
cate, the  scales  lanceolate,  acute,  hairy.  Each  ca- 
lyx contains  about  twelve  or  fifteen  florets,  which 
are  tubular,  with  fine  spreading  segments,  and  sur- 
rounded with  a  rough  down.  The  stamens  in  each 
consist  of  five  soft  filaments,  with  blackish  anthers 


THOROUGH  WORT.  35 

united  with  a  tube.  Style  filiform,  divided  into 
two  branches,  which  project  above  the  flower. 
Seeds  oblong  on  a  naked  receptacle. 

Every  part  of  the  Eupatorium  has  an  intense- 
ly bitter  taste,  combined  with  a  flavour  peculiar  to 
the  plant,  but  without  astringency  or  acrimony. 
The  leaves  and  flowers  abound  in  a  bitter  extrac- 
tive matter,  in  which  the  important  qualities  of 
the  plant  seem  to  reside.  I  find  this  principle  to 
be  alike  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  imparting  its 
sensible  qualities  to  both,  and  neither  solution  be- 
ing rendered  turbid,  at  least  for  some  time,  by  the 
addition  of  the  other  solvent.  It  forms  copious  pre- 
cipitates withmany  of  the  metallic  salts,  such  as  mu- 
riate of  tin,  nitrate  of  mercury,  nitrate  of  silver,  and 
acetate  of  lead.  Of  the  mineral  acids,  the  sulphu- 
ric and  muriatic  form  slight  precipitates  with  the 
aqueous  decoction ;  the  oxymuriatic,  a  more  copi- 
ous one  ;  the  nitric,  in  my  experiments,  gave  no 
precipitate,  but  changed  the  colour  to  a  red.  In 
the  alcoholic  solution  the  oxymuriatic  alone  form- 
ed an  immediate  precipitate.  Tannin  exists  very 
sparingly  in  this  plant.  A  solution  of  isinglass 
produced  a  slight  precipitate  from  the  tincture, 
and  a  hardly  perceptible  turbidness  in  separate 
decoctions  of  the  leaves  and  flowers.  Sulphate 
of  iron  gave  a  dark  green  precipitate,  which  par- 


36  ETJPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

tially  subsided  in  a  short  time. — ^In  distillation, 
water  came  over  very  slightly  affected  with  the 
sensible  qualities  of  the  plant,  and  not  alterable 
by  sulphate  of  iron, 

A  dissertation  of  merit  on  this  plant  was  pub- 
lished a  few  years  since  by  Dr.  Anderson  of  New 
York,  in  which  he  gives  the  details  of  numerous 
and  elaborate  chemical  trials,  made  by  him  on  dif- 
ferent parts  of  the  plant.     He  concludes,  among 
other  things,  from  his  experiments,  that  the  ac- 
tive  properties   of  the  plant   reside  in  greatest 
quantity  in  the  leaves,   and  that  its  virtues  are 
readily  obtained  by  means  of  a  simple  decoction. 
The  medical  powers  of  Eupatorium  are  such 
as  its  sensible  properties  would  seem  to  indicate, 
those  of  a  tonic  stimulant.      Given  in  moderate 
quantities,  either  in  substance  or  in  cold  infusion 
or  decoction,  it  promotes  digestion,  strengthens 
the  viscera,  and  restores  tone  to  the  system.   Like 
other  vegetable  bitters,  if  given  in  large  quantities, 
especially    in     warm   infusion   or   decoction,    it 
proves  emetic,  sudorific,  and  aperient.     Even  in 
cold  infusion  it  tends  to  bring  on  diaphoresis. 

This  plant  has  been  long  in  use  in  different 
parts  of  the  United  States,  for  the  same  purposes 
for  which  the  Peruvian  bark.  Gentian,  Chamomile, 
^'c.  are  employed.    It  has  been  found  competent 


THOROUGH  WORT.  37 

to  the  cure  of  intermittent  fevers  by  yarioiis  prac- 
titioners in  the  middle  and  southern  states.  Dr. 
Anderson  has  detailed  six  cases  of  intermittents, 
quotidian,  tertian,  and  quartan,  out  of  a  large 
number  which  had  been  successfully  treated  with- 
in his  own  observation  by  the  Eupatorium  both 
in  substance  and  decoction.  In  these  cases  the 
cures  were  certainly  expeditious,  and  took  place 
at  as  early  a  period  as  could  have  been  expected 
from  arsenic  or  the  Peruvian  bark.  Dr.  A.  cites 
the  experience  of  several  distinguished  practi- 
tioners, particularly  Dr.  Hosack  of  Xew  York 
and  the  late  Dr.  Barton  of  Philadelphia,  in  con- 
firmation of  his  own,  to  shew  that  the  Eupatorium 
is  an  efficacious  remedy  in  the  treatment  of  va- 
rious febrile  disorders,  also  of  many  cutaneous 
affections,  and  diseases  of  general  debility. 

I  have  prescribed  an  infusion  of  the  Euj)ato- 
rium  in  various  instances  to  patients  in  the  low 
stages  of  fever,  where  it  has  appeared  instrumen- 
tal in  supporting  the  strength  and  promoting  a 
moisture  of  the  skin,  without  materially  increas- 
ing the  heat  of  the  bod} .  I  have  also  found  the 
cold  infusion  or  decqction  a  serviceable  tonic  in 
loss  of  appetite  and  other  symptoms  of  dyspepsia, 
as  well  as  in  general  debility  of  the  system. 


S8  EUPATORIUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

The  warm  infusion  is  a  convenient  substitute 
for  that  of  chamomile  flowers  in  facilitating  the 
operation  of  an  emetic. 

When  employed  as  a  tonic,  this  plant  may  be 
taken  in  powder  in  doses  of  twenty  or  thirty 
grains,  or  a  teacup  full  may  be  used  of  the  infu- 
sion, rendered  moderately  bitter.  When  intend- 
ed to  act  as  an  emetic,  a  strong  decoction  may  be 
made  from  an  ounce  of  the  plant  in  a  quart  of 
water,  boiled  to  a  pint, 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Eupatorium  perfoliatum,  Linst-eus,  Sp.  pi. — ^Aitoiv,  Hort, 
Kew.  iii.  160. — Wixidenow,  Sp,  pi.  iii.  1761. — Gronovius, 
Virg.  119. — CoiDEN-,  JVbrefior.  181. — Stokes,  iv.  171. — Pursh, 
ii.  516. — Eupatorium  connatum,  Michatjx,  Fl.  Amer.  ii.  99.— 
Eupatorium  Virginianum,  &c. — Pi.UKE]>rET,  t.  87.  f.  6.< — Raius, 
suppl.  189. — Moris  ON,  hist.  iii.  97. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHOEPF  121. — GuTHEiE  in  Jlnnal.  Med.  iii.  403. — Bart. 
Coll.  28. — Med.  and  Phtjs.  JbwniaZ.— Thacher  Disp,  217. — An- 
derson, Inaugural  Thesis, 

PLATE  II. 

Fig.  1.  Eupatorium  perfoliatum. 

Fig.  2.  A  Jiower  magnified. 

Fig.  S.  Jl  fioret  magnified. 

Fig.  4.  Tii&e  of  anthers  with  the  style  running  through. 


fl'f//f'^/''f 


5   '^. 


yi/ 


eyiden 


Ij 


I 


40  PHYTOLACCA  DEC AND RA. 

In  the  autumnal  months  no  plant  among  us  is 
more  remarkable  than  the  Phytolacca  for  its  large 
size,  and  the  fine  coloui'  of  its  clusters  of  berries. 
Its  most  general  appellation  is  Foke,  an  abbrevia- 
tion, perhaps,  of  Pocaii,  the  name  by  which  it  was 
known  in  Virginia  a  century  ago.  In  Xew  Eng- 
land it  is  more  frequently  called  Garget,  Cocum^ 
Jalap  and  Pigeon  berries. 

Jussieu  has  arranged  this  genus  among  his 
Jltriplices,  and  Linnseus  with  the  Oleracem. 

The  number  of  its  stems  and  styles,  place  it  in 
the  class  Becandria  and  order  Becagynia.  Its 
generic  character  consists  in  having  no  calyx,  a 
corolla  of  jive  petals,  and  its  berries  superior  with 
ten  cells  and  ten  seeds.  The  species  decandra  is 
the  only  one  which  strictly  agrees  with  its  class 
and  order,  and  is  known  by  having  ovate  leaves, 
acute  at  both  ends,  and  itsjiowers  with  ten  stamens 
and  styles. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  of  large  size,  frequent- 
ly exceeding  a  man's  leg  in  thickness,  and  is  usu- 
ally divided  into  two  or  three  principal  branches. 
Its  substance  is  fleshy  and  fibrous,  and  easily  cut 
or  broken.  Internally  it  is  distinctl)^  marked  with 
concentric  rings  of  considerable  thickness,  while 
its  outer  surface  is  covered  Avith  a  very  thin  brown- 
ish bark,  which  seems  to  be  little  more  than  a  cu- 


I'OKE*  41 

tide.  The  stalks,  which  are  annual,  frequently 
grow  to  the  height  of  six,  and  even  nine  feet. 
They  are  round,  smooth,  and  very  much  branch- 
ed. When  young,  their  usual  colour  is  green, 
but  in  most  plants,  after  the  berries  have  ripened, 
they  are  of  a  fine  purple.  The  leaves  are  scatter- 
ed, petioled,  ovate-oblong,  smooth  on  both  sides, 
ribbed  underneath,  entire,  acute.  The  flowers 
grow  on  long  pedunculated  racemes  opposite  to 
leaves.  Peduncles  nearly  smooth,  angular,  as- 
cending. Pedicels  divaricated,  sometimes  branch- 
ed, green,  white,  or  purple,  furnished  with  a  small 
linear  bracte  at  base,  and  two  others  in  the  mid- 
dle. Calyx  none.  Corolla  resembling  a  calyx, 
whitish,  consisting  of  five  round-ovate,  concave, 
incurving  petals.  Stamens  ten,  rather  shorter 
than  the  petals,  with  white,  roundish,  two  lobed 
anthers.  Germ  greenish,  round,  depressed,  ten 
furrowed.  Styles  ten,  short,  recurved.  The  flow- 
ers are  succeeded  by  long  clusters  of  dark  purple 
berries,  almost  black,  depressed  or  flattened,  and 
marked  with  ten  furrows  on  the  sides. 

The  dried  root  is  light  coloured  and  spongy, 
with  a  mild  and  somewhat  sweetish  taste.  A  part 
of  it  is  soluble  both  in  water  and  alcohol,  and  nei- 
ther of  these  substances  renders  turbid  the  solu- 
tion in  the  other,  unless  the  solution  has  been  in- 

6 


4S  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

spissatedby  long  boiling.  The  soluble  portion  ap- 
pears neither  resinous  nor  mucous.  It  approach- 
es most  nearly  to  extractive,  but  has  characters 
somewhat  peculiar  to  itself.  A  decoction  of  the 
root  procured  by  boiling  for  ten  minutes  in  dis- 
tilled water,  exhibited  after  filtration  the  follow- 
ing results.  It  was  transparent,  nearly  colourless, 
and  did  not  alter  litmus.  It  gave  no  precipitate 
with  the  sulphuric,  nitric,  muriatic,  oxy muriatic, 
and  acetous  acids.  It  gave  no  precipitate  with  the 
sulphate  of  iron,  but  formed  a  copious  one  with 
the  nitrates  of  mercury  and  silver,  and  the  ace- 
tate of  lead.  Muriate  of  tin  produced  no  effect  at 
first,  but  after  standing,  a  liglit  precipitate  took 
place.  Pearl  ash,  lime  water,  and  muriate  of  ba- 
rytes  rendered  the  solution  turbid.  Acetate  of 
barytes  occasioned  no  change.  Oxymuriate  of 
lime  formed  an  immediate  precipitate. 

The  cold  infusion  exhibited  nearly  the  same 
results  as  the  decoction.  The  alcoholic  solution 
underwent  no  change  from  muriate  of  tin,  but 
threw  down  a  dense  precipitate  with  nitrate  of 
mercury. 

From  the  above  experiments  it  appears,  that 
the  soluble  principle  of  the  Phytolacca  differs 
from  common  vegetable  extractive,  as  defined  by 
the  chemists,  in  several  respects,  particularly  in 


POKE. 


not  being  thrown  down  by  the  oxymnriatic  or 
other  mineral  acids,  and  in  being  but  partially 
affected  by  muriate  of  tin. 

In  the  Jlnnales  de  Cliimie,  vol.  Ixxii,  is  a  me- 
moir on  the  Chemical  properties  of  the  Phyto- 
lacca decandra  by  M.  Braconnot.  His  experi- 
ments indicate  the  presence  of  an  unusual  quan- 
tity of  vegetable  alkali  in  this  plant.  He  found 
that  the  ashes,  procured  by  incinerating  the  stalks, 
afforded  nearly  67  per  cent,  of  dried  alkaline  car- 
bonate, and  43  per  cent,  of  pure  caustic  potash^ 
This  alkali  in  the  plant  is  neutralized  by  an  acid 
having  considerable  affinity  to  tlie  malic,  but 
with  a  few  shades  of  difference.  With  lime  and 
lead  malic  acid  forms  flocculent  precipitates,  very 
easily  soluble  in  distilled  vinegar,  but  those  with 
the  phytolaccic  acid  are  insoluble.  M.  Hracon- 
not  thinks  this  acid  may  probably  be  a  mean  be- 
tween the  malic  and  oxalic  acids,  or  an  oxygeniz- 
ed malic  acid. 

The  same  memoir  contains  an  examination  of 
the  colouring  matter  in  the  berries  of  the  Phyto- 
lacca. The  juice  of  these  berries  is  of  a  very 
fine,  bright  purple  colour,  but  this  colour  is  ex- 
tremely fugacious  and  disappears  in  a  short  time 
from  cloth  or  pnper  that  has  been  tinged  with  it» 
A  few  drops  of  lime  water  added  to  this  purple 


44?  PHYTOLACCA  DEC  AND  RA. 

juice  change  it  to  a  yellow  colour,  but  the  small- 
est quantity  of  acid  is  sufficient  to  restore  its  pur- 
ple hue.  Exposure  to  the  air  or  large  dilu- 
tions is  sufficient  to  restore  the  original  purple. 

M,  Braconnot  considers  the  yellow  liquor  pro- 
duced by  the  juice  of  these  berries  and  lime  wa- 
ter as  one  of  the  most  delicate  tests  of  tlie  pres- 
ence of  acid.  Into  two  glasses  he  put  equal 
quantities  of  the  juice  made  yellow  and  of  an  in- 
fusion of  litmus  of  equal  depth  of  colour.  More 
than  sixty  drops  of  a  very  weak  acid  were  required 
to  redden  the  infusion  of  litmus,  but  less  than  fif- 
teen restored  the  purple  colour  of  the  Phytolacca. 
Hence  it  follows,  that  the  yellow  liquor  is  four 
times  as  sensible  to  the  presence  of  acid,  as  the 
infusion  of  litmus.  It  however  requires  to  be  us- 
ed immediately  after  it  is  prepared,  since  a  few 
hours  cause  a  spontaneous  change  in  it,  which  be- 
gins with  a  precipitate,  and  ends  with  a  depriva- 
tion of  colour. 

The  effects  produced  on  this  purple  colour  hy 
other  reagents  were  as  follows.  Pure  alkalis  gave 
it  a  yellow  colour.  Alkaline  subcarbonates  a  vio- 
let, that  fades  and  becomes  yellow  by  standing. 
Weak  acids  no  perceptible  change.  Dilute  oxy- 
muriatic  acid  a  complete  deprivation  of  colour 
with  white  fiocculi.     Alum  nothing  at  first,  but 


POKE.  40 

after  some  days,  a  very  liglit  red  precipitate.  Mu- 
riate of  lime  no  change.  Muriate  of  tin  a  red  se- 
diment inclining  to  lilac,  leaving  the  fluid  colour- 
less. Mtrate  of  lead  a  precipitate  of  the  colour 
of  wine  lees.  Super  oxided  sulphate  of  iron,  a 
dirty  violet. 

Many  of  the  above  experiments  I  have  repeat- 
ed, and  added  others.  The  yellow  colour  produc- 
ed by  the  alkalis  borders  on  green.  Pure  stron- 
tian  produces  the  same  change  as  potash  and 
lime.  Pure  barytes  wholly  discharges  the  colour 
on  standing  a  short  time.  Acetate  of  lead  forms 
a  scarlet  precipitate,  leaving  the  liquid  nearly  col- 
ourless. 

The  purple  colour  that  tinges  the  cuticle  of 
the  stalks  of  the  Phytolacca  is  stated  in  the  above 
memoir,  to  be  of  the  same  nature  as  that  in  the 
berries,  and  to  afford  the  same  results. 

The  taste  of  the  berries  is  sweetish  and  nause- 
ous, leaving  behind  a  very  slight  sense  of  acrimo- 
ny. M.  Braconnot,  found  tliat  at  a  moderate  tem- 
perature, the  juice  underwent  the  vinous  fermen- 
tation, and  yielded  alcohol  by  distillation.  Dr. 
Shultz  procured  from  half  a  bushel  of  the  berries 
six  pints  of  spirit  sufficiently  strong  to  take  fire 
and  burn  with  readiness. 


46  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

In  its  medicinal  properties  the  root  of  the  Phy- 
tohicca  decandra  approaches   nearer   to   ipecac- 
uanha than  any  American  vegetable,  I  have  hith- 
erto examined.    From  abundant  experience,  the 
result  of  many  trials  made  in  Dispensary  practice, 
I  am  satisfied  that,  when  properly  prepared,  it 
operates  in  the  same  doses  and  with  the  same  cer- 
tainty, as  the  South  American  emetic.    Ten  grains 
of  the  powder  will  rarely  remain  on  the  stomach, 
and  twenty  or  thirty  produce  a  powerful  operation, 
by  emesis  and  generally  by  catharsis.     In  its  mode 
of  operation,  this  medicine  has  some  peculiarities, 
a  part  of  which  are  favorable,  others  disadvanta- 
geous.    Its   advantages  are,  that  it  operates  with 
ease,  and  seldom  occasions  pain  or  cramp.    Its  dis- 
advantages are,   1.  That  it  is  slow  in  its  effects, 
frequently   not   beginning   to   operate    until    an 
hour,  and  sometimes  two  hours  after  it  is  taken, 
2,    That   it   continues   to   operate  for  a   greater 
length  of  time  than  is  usual  for  emetics,  although 
as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  observe,  it  is  readily 
checked  by  an  opiate.     Tliese  disadvantages  how- 
ever are  not  constant.     I  have  repeatedly  known 
it  commence  operating  in  fifteen  minutes,  and 
cease  after  four  or  five  ejections.     The  represen- 
tations of  patients  as  to  any  unpleasant  feelings 
under  its  effects,  are  not  greater  than  we  should 


POKE,  4^ 

naturally  expect,  when  it  is  recollected,  tliat  no 
emetic  is  altogether  comfortable  in  its  operation. 
Dr.  Fisher  of  Beverly*  informs  me  that  whenever 
he  has  used  the  Phytolacca,  it  has  performed  its 
duty  as  an  emetic  perfectly  well,  and  that  in  one 
patient,  a  female  of  irritable  stomach,  in  whom 
previous  emetics  had  always  excited  severe 
spasms,  ten  grains  of  the  Phytolacca  operated  ef- 
fectually, and  no  spasm  followed. 

I  have   sometimes   observed  slight  narcotic 
symptoms   during  the   operation  of  Phytolacca, 
particularly  vertigo.     But  others  have  not  always 
met  with  this  symptom.     Br.  George  Hayward  of 
this  town,  who  has  had  much  experience  with  this 
medicine,  the  results  of  which  were  communicat- 
ed to  the  Linn^an  society,  and  afterwards  publish- 
ed in  the  New   Eugland  Journal,   October   1817, 
states  that  in  doses  of  a  scruple,  he  never  notic- 
ed any  dizziness,  or  stupor  from  it,  although  he 
had  always    been  particular  in  his  inquiries   to 
know  if  any  such    symptoms   took  place.     The 
above  dose  was  administered  by  him  in  nearly 
thirty  cases,  in  all  of  which,  except  in  one  case,  it 
operated  as  an  emetic  and  cathartic,  usually  three 
or  four  times,  tlioroughly,  though   not   severely, 
generally  commencing  its  operation  on  the  stom- 

*  Letter  dated  Novemberj  1815. 


48  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

ach  in  an  lioui%  and  rarely  continuing  longer  than 
four.  He  found  it  to  excite  little  or  no  nausea 
preyious  to  its  operation,  and  though  it  made  a 
powerful  impression  on  the  system,  it  never  pro- 
duced any  disagreeable  or  unusual  symptoms. 

Dr.  Hayward  also  made  trial  of  the  powder  of 
the  leaves,  which  he  found  to  possess  the  same 
properties  with  that  of  the  root,  hut  to  be  less  ef- 
fectual and  less  certain  in  its  operation.  He  al- 
so prepared  a  tincture^  decoction,  and  wine  of  the 
root ;  hut  all  these  were  inferior  to  the  medicine 
in  substance,  being  less  certain  in  their  effect,  and 
sometimes  giving  rise  to  troublesome  symptoms. 

Dr.  Shultz  of  Pennsylvania,  author  of  an  in- 
augural dissertation  on  the  Phytolacca  decandra, 
gave  the  expressed  juice  of  the  leaves,  berries, 
and  roots,  in  considerable  quantity  to  animals.  It 
operated  by  emesis  and  catharsis,  attended  with 
drowsiness.  The  j  nice  of  the  root  was  most  active. 
He  also  gave  to  a  dog  two  ounces  of  the  spiritous 
liquor  distilled  from  the  berries.  It  occasioned 
nausea  and  drowsiness,  with  slight  spasmodic  mo- 
tions, but  no  vomiting. 

In  the  same  dissertation,  Dr.  Shultz  refers  to 
several  instances  of  persons  who  had  incautiously 
eaten  large  quantities  of  the  root  through  mistake. 
Its  effects  were  violent  vomiting   and  pui^ging. 


POKE.  49 

prostration  of  strength,  and  in   some  instances 
convulsions. 

The  Phytolacca  has  had  some  reputation  in 
the  treatment  of  rheumatism,  Dr,  Griffits,  for- 
merly a  professor  in  the  University  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, found  it  of  great  use  in  Syphilitic  rheumatism. 
Dr.  Hay  ward  however  states,  that  he  derived  no 
advantage  from  its  employment  in  rheumatic  af- 
fections. 

The  young  shoots  of  this  vegetable  are  desti- 
tute of  medicinal  qualities,  and  are  eaten  in  the 
spring  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States,  as  sub- 
stitutes for  asparagus.  At  this  time  the  succus 
proprius  or  returning  juice  of  the  plant  is  not  yet 
formed  by  exposure  of  the  sap  to  the  atmospheric 
air,  in  the  leaves.  The  ripe  berries  are  less  nox- 
ious than  the  green,  and  are  devoured  by  several 
species  of  birds.  In  Portugal  and  in  France  they 
were  formerly  employed  to  improve  the  colour  of 
red  wines,  until  the  interference  of  government 
became  necessary  to  put  a  stop  to  the  prac- 
tice. 

The  external  application  of  Phytolacca  has 
been  found  useful  in  a  variety  of  cases,  by  its  ac- 
tion as  a  local  stimulant.  The  ointment  and  ex- 
tract have  commonly  been  employed  for  this  pur- 
pose. These  preparations  usually  excite  a  sense  of 
7 


50  PHYTOLACCA  DECANDRA. 

heat  and  smarting  on  being  first  applied.  I  have 
cured  cases  of  psora  with  the  ointment,  and  Dr. 
Hayward  states,  that  he  found  it  successful  in  cas- 
es where  sulphur  had  failed.  A  case  of  tinia 
capitis  of  twelve  years'  standing,  which  had  re- 
sisted various  kinds  of  treatment,  was  also  cured 
hj  this  application. 

The  Phytolacca  is  one  of  those  vegetables 
which  has  had  its  temporary  reputation  for  the 
cure  of  cancer.  For  this  purpose  it  has  been  re- 
sorted to  in  various  parts  of  the  world,  and  many 
m^en  of  science  have  been  convicts  to  its  efficacy? 
among  whom  were  Dr.  Colden  and  Dr.  Franklin  of 
our  country.  [JSTote  E.]  But  like  other  vegetable 
specifics  for  cancer,  it  owes  its  character  to  an  im- 
perfect discrimination  of  that  disease,  and  a  mis- 
application of  the  name.  All  that  can  be  strictly 
inferred  from  tbe  various  accounts  we  have  had 
on  this  subject,  is,  that  the  plant  has  often  proved 
useful  in  malignant  ulcers  by  its  stimulating  and 
almost  escharotic  eifects,  frequently  producing  an 
eschar,  and  thus  altering  the  condition  of  the  ul- 
cerated surface. 

For  internal  use  no  preparation  of  the  Phyto- 
lacca is  to  be  preferred  to  the  powder,  of  which 
from  ten  to  fifteen  grains  is  often  a  sufficient 
emetic. 


DRAGON  ROOT.  51 

The  root  should  he  dug  late  in  autumn  or  dur- 
ing the  winter.  It  should  he  cut  in  transverse 
slices  and  dried.  After  heing  pulverized,  it  should 
he  kept  in  close  stopped  phials.  The  stock  should 
he  annually  renewed,  as  its  activity  is  impaired  by 
age. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Phytolacca  decandra,  Linn^us,  sp.pl. — Aiton,  JETor^  TCew.  ii» 
122. — Botanical  Magaaine,  t.  931. — Michatjx,  Fl.  Amer.  i.  2r8„ 
PuBSH.  i.  324. — Phytolacca  vulgaris,  Diulenius,  Hort.  EUK 
t.  239. — P.  Americana — Boerhaave,  Ho7't,  Lug.  ii.  70. — Solari- 
um racemosum  Americanum,  Raius,  Hist.  662. — Plukenetj, 
Phyt,  t.  225.  /.  3. — Solanum  magnum  Virginianum  rubrum^ 
Paekinson,  Theatrum,  347. — Blitura  Americanum^  Muntibt- 
Gius,  Phyt.  ciir.  t.  212. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  appar.  med.  iv.  335.^ — Kaim,  travels  in  JV.  Jlmer.  i. 
197. — Graffenreid,  Mem.  Berne,  iii.  185. — Schcepf.  71.— ~ 
Browne,  Hist.  Jamaica,  232. — Jimoen.  Acad.  iv. — Mlller,  Dict-^ 
under  the  name. — Sprogex.  Biss.  dr.  ven.  24. — Beckman,  com- 
ment. Gotting,  1779,  74.-- Allioni,  Flor.  Fed.  ii.  132.— Frank- 
MN,  works,  vol.  i. — Cutler,  Mem.  Amer.  Acad.  i.  447. — RusHj. 
i.  259. — Thacher,  Bisp.  300. — Shuitz,  Inaugural  thesis.-^ 
Hayward,  JV.  Engl.  Journal,  vi. 


PLATE  III. 

Fig.  1.  Phytolacca  decandra  infioiver  and  infrvAL 

Fig.  2,  Section  (^  a  berry. 


AiaUM  TRIPHYLLUM. 


Dragon  root. 


PLATE  IV. 

It  appears,  that  both  !N"orth  and  South  Amer- 
ica give  rise  to  this  species  of  Arum,  which  is  so 
versatile  in  its  constitution  as  to  bear  the  winters 
of  Canada,  and  the  perpetual  summer  of  Brazil, 
In  its  structure  it  is  one  of  our  most  singular  veg- 
etables, and  in  colour  one  of  the  most  variable. 
It  grows  in  swamps  and  damp  shady  woods,  and  is 
universally  known  among  us  by  the  names  of  Dra- 
gon  root  and  Indian  turnij). 

The  class  to  which  the  family  of  Arums  be- 
long, is  rendered  somewhat  obscure  by  the  varia- 
tion of  the  species.  Most  botanists  have  placed 
them  in  the  class  Monaecia,  others  in  Polyandria, 
The  species  under  consideration  is  undoubtedly 
Polygamous.  In  natural  arrangements,  the  Arums 


I 


\   ■ 


///f//f      A //f  A ///////// 


54)  ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM. 

gether.     In  some  it  is  wholly  green,  in  otliera 
dark  purple  or  black.      In  most  it  is  variegated, 
as  in  our  figuj-e,  with  pale  greenish  stripes  on  a 
dark  ground.     The  spadix  is  much  shorter  tlian 
the    spathe,  club  shaped,  rounded   at  the   end, 
green,  purple,  black,  or  variegated,  suddenly  con- 
tracted into  a  narrow  neck  at  base,  and  surround- 
ed below  by  the  stamens  or  germs.     In  the  bar- 
ren plants,  its  base  is  covered  with  conical,  flesby 
filaments,  bearing  from  two  to  four  circular  an- 
thers each.     In  the  fertile  plants,  it  is  invested 
with  roundish  crowded  germs,  each  tipt  with  a 
stigma.     Plants  which  are  perfectly  moncecious, 
and  which  are  the  least  common,  have  stamens 
below   the   germs.      There    are  also   frequently 
found  irregular,  reniform  substances,  much  larger 
than  the  anthers,  of  which  they  seem  to  be  a  dis- 
ease.    The  upper  part  of  the  spadix  withers  with 
the   spathe,  while  the  germs  grow  into  a  large 
compact  buncli  of  shining  scarlet  berries. 

Every  part  of  the  Arum,  and  especially  the 
root,  is  violently  acrid,  and  almost  caustic.  Ap- 
plied to  the  tongue  or  to  any  secreting  surface,  it 
produces  an  effect  like  that  of  Cayenne  pepper, 
but  far  more  powerful,  so  much  so,  as  to  leave  a 
permanent  soreness  of  many  hours'  continuance. 
Of  this  any  one  may  become  satisfied  by  a  simple 


DRAGON  ROOT.  55 

application  of  the  root  to  his  mouth.  Its  action 
does  not  readily  extend  through  the  cuticle,  since 
the  bruised  root  may  be  worn  upon  the  external 
skin  until  it  becomes  dry,  without  occasioning 
pain  or  rubefaction. 

The  acrid  property,  which  resides  in  tliis  and 
other  species  of  Arum,  appears  to  depend  upon 
a  distinct  vegetable  principle  in  Chemistry,  at 
present  but  little  understood.  It  is  extremely 
volatile,  and  disappears  almost  entirely  by  heat, 
drying,  or  simple  exposure  to  the  air.  I  have  en- 
deavoured, with  but  partial  success,  to  obtain  it 
in  a  separate  state,  or  in  any  perceptible  combina- 
tion. The  following  were  some  of  the  methods 
by  which  it  was  attempted. 

Portions  of  the  fresh  contused  root  were  sepa- 
rately digested  in  water,  in  proof  spirit,  in  alcohol, 
in  ether,  in  olive  oil  and  in  vinegar.  The  infu- 
sions were  tasted  at  different  periods,  but  none  of 
them  had  acquiretl  the  least  acrimony  from  the 
plant. 

The  expressed  juice  of  the  root  upon  standing 
one  minute  had  lost  all  its  pungency. 

A  quantity  of  the  bruised  root  was  placed  in  a 
retort  and  covered  with  water.  Heat  was  gradu- 
ally applied,  until  a  fluid  began  to  collect  in  the 
receiver.     This  fluid  had  the  peculiar  odour  of 


56  ARUM  TRIPHYLLUM, 

the  root,  but  was  wholly  without  acrimony.  The 
same  experiment  was  repeated  with  alcohol,  and 
vinegar,  and  afforded  similar  results.  In  every 
case  the  liquid  remaining  in  the  retort  was  also 
without  pungency. 

Some  slices  of  the  root  were  digested  in  proof 
spirit  in  a  close  stopped  phial.  The  portions  of 
root  retained  their  acrimony  at  the  end  of  soma 
weeks,  but  had  imparted  none  to  the  spirit.  At 
the  end  of  two  years,  the  root  was  examined  and 
found  destitute  of  acrimony,  as  were  also  the 
whole  contents  of  the  phial. 

Suspecting  that  the  acrid  principle  of  this 
plant  must  escape  in  form  of  gas  during  the  pro- 
cesses which  have  been  mentioned,  the  fol- 
lowing experiment  was  made.  A  quantity  of  the 
bruised  root  and  stalks  were  placed  in  a  vessel  of 
water.  A  glass  receiver  was  filled  with  water  and 
inverted  over  them,  and  sufficient  heat  applied  to 
raise  the  water  nearly  to  the  boiling  point.  From 
the  beginning  of  the  process,  bubbles  of  air  con- 
tinued to  escape  from  the  plant,  and  were  collect- 
ed in  the  upper  part  of  tlie  receiver.  In  the 
course  of  half  an  hour,  a  considerable  quantity  of 
permanent  gas  was  obtainecL  A  part  of  this  gas, 
after  cooling,  was  transferred  to  a  phial,  in  which 
was  a  small  quantity  of  atmospheric  aii\     On  pre- 


BRAGON  ROOT.  57 

seating  a  lighted  paper  to  the  mouth  of  this  phi- 
al, it  exploded  with  a  very  distinct  report.  An- 
other portion  of  the  gas  was  agitated  with  lime 
water,  which  it  rendered  turhid.  This  circum- 
stance was  prohably  owing  to  the  mixture  of  car- 
bonic acid  disengaged  from  the  plant,  or  from  the 
water  by  boiling. 

From  the  above  experiments,  which  circum- 
stances did  not  permit  me  to  pursue,  it  appears 
that  the  acrimony  of  the  Arum  resides  in  a  prin- 
ciple having  no  affinity  for  water,  alcohol,  or  oil, 
being  highly  volatile,  and,  in  a  state  of  gas,  in- 
flammable. The  products  of  its  combustion,  as 
well  as  its  other  affinities,  remain  to  be  investi- 
gated.* 

The  acrimony  of  the  Arum  when  fresh  is  too 
powerful  to  render  its  internal  exhibition  safe. 
The  roots,  when  dried  whole,  retain  a  small  por- 
tion of  their  pungency,  and  in  this  state  they  have 
been  given  by  some  practitioners  in  the  country 
for  flatulence,  cramp  in  the  stomachj  ^c.  also  for 

*  The  acrimony  of  the  Ranunculi,  which  approaches  that  of  the 
Arum,  is  lost  by  drying,  yet  is  soluble  in  water,  and  passes  over  with 
it  in  distillation.  That  of  Polygonum  hydropiper  disappears  in  de- 
coction and  distillation.  The  same  takes  place  with  several  other 
acrid  plants  which  I  have  examined.  Some  inquiries  into  the  acrid 
principle  of  vegetables  I  am  in  hopes  to  render  more  mature  at  a  fu- 
ture period. 


58  ARtJM  TRIPHYLLtJM. 

asthmatic  affections.  As  topical  stimulants,  they 
promise  to  be  nsefnl  when  any  method  shall  have 
been  discovered  of  fixing  and  preserving  their  ac- 
rimony. The  late  Dr.  Barton  of  Philadelphia  ob- 
serves, that  "  the  recent  root  of  this  plant  boiled 
in  milk,  so  as  to  communicate  to  the  milk  a  strong 
impregnation  of  the  peculiar  acrimony  of  the  plant, 
has  been  advantageously  employed  in  cases  of 
consumption  of  the  lungs."  This  statement  how- 
ever should  be  qualified  by  the  recollection,  that 
the  Arum  imparts  none  of  its  acrimony  to  milk 
upon  boiling.  An  impression  of  this  kind  can 
only  have  been  received  from  a  partial  mixture  of 
the  substance  of  the  root  with  the  milk. 

The  root  contains  a  large  proportion  of  very 
pure  white  fsecula,  resembling  the  finest  arrow 
root  or  starch.    To  procure  this,  the  fresh  root 
should  be  reduced  to  a  pulp,  and   placed   on  a 
strainer.     Repeated  portions  of  cold  water  should 
then  be  poured  on  it,  which  in  passing  through 
the  strainer  carry  with  them  the  farinaceous  part, 
leaving  the  fibrous  portion  behind.     The  fsecula 
thus  obtained,  loses  its  acrimony  on  being  thor- 
oughly dried,  and  forms  a  very  white,  delicate  and 
nutritive  substance.     Dr.  M'Call  of  Georgia  found 
these  roots  to  yield  one  fourth  part  of  their  weight 
of  pure  amylaceous  matter,— It  is  not  uncommon 


DRAGON  ROOT.  59 

for  a  nutritious  fsecula  to  exist  in  pungent  and  poi- 
sonous roots.  The  Laplanders  prepare  a  whole- 
some bread  from  the  acrid  roots  of  Calla  palus- 
tris,  and  the  juice  of  the  Cassava,  or  bread 
root  tree  of  the  West  Indies,  is  known  to  be  high- 
ly deleterious  wliile  recent.  [JSTote  F.] 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

LiNN^TJs,  sp.  pi. — WiLiDENOW,  iv.  480. — AiToiv,  Eort  KeWc 
lii.  315. — Waiter,  Carol.  224. — Michaux,  Fl.  ii.  188. — Pursh, 
ii.  399.  Dracunculus  s.  Serpentaria  triphylla,  &c. — Bauhu?", 
Fin,  195. — Arum  s.  Arisarum,  &c. — MoRisojir,  Hist,  iii.  547, 
S.  13,  t,  5. — Plukenet,  t.  77,  J.  5.  also  t.  376,  f.  3. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHtEPF,  Mat.  Med.  133. — Rush,  ii.  301. — Bartoiv,  Coll.  29, 
&c. — M'CAiiLjMi  Philad.  Med.  and  Phys.  Journal^  ii.  84. — Tuach- 
ER,  Disp,  153. — CuTXER,  Mem.  Jlmer.  Jlcad.  i,  48r. 

PLATE  IV. 

Fig.  1.  Anim  triphyllum. 

Fig.  2.  Spadix  with  anthers. 

Fig.  3.  Spadix  with  germs. 

Fig.  4.  Longitudinal  section  of  the  roofi 


COPTIS  TRIFOLIA. 


Gold  thread. 


PLATE  r. 

X  HE  dark  sphagnous  swamps,  "which  in  the 
northern  partis  of  our  continent  are  covered  with 
a  perpetual  shade  of  firs,  cedars  and  pines,  are 
the  favourite  haunts  of  this  elegant  little  ever- 
green. The  coldest  situations  seem  to  favour  its 
growth,  and  it  flourishes  alike  in  the  morasses  of 
Canada  and  of  Siberia.  On  our  highest  mountain 
tops  it  plants  itself  in  little  bogs  and  watery  clefts 
of  rocks,  and  perfects  its  fructification  in  the  short 
summer  allowed  it  in  those  situations.  I  have 
gathered  it  upon  the  summit  of  the  Ascutney  in 
Vermont,  and  on  the  Alpine  regions  of  the  White 
mountains.  It  is  here  that  in  company  with  the 
Diapensia  and  Azaleas  of  Lapland,  the  blue  Men- 
ziesia,  the  fragrant  Alpine  Ilolcii ;,  ;  ?id  other  plants 


GOLD  THREAD.  61 

of  high  northern  latitudes,  it  forms  the  link  of  bo- 
tanical connexion  between  the  two  continents. 
When  in  situations  like  this,  we  seem  transported 
to  the  frigid  zone,  and  to  be  present  at  the  point 
where  the  hemispheres  approach  each  other,  as  if 
to  interchange  their  productions.* 

In  the  second  volume  of  the  Amcenitates  Ac- 
ademicse  is  a  description  and  imperfect  figure  of 
this  plant  as  brought  from  Kamschatka,  by  Hale- 
nius.  He  describes  it  by  the  name  Eelleborus 
trifolius^  with  the  observation,  "  Minima  est  hiec 
planta  in  suo  genere,  attamen  spectabilis."  Sub- 
sequent botanists  have  ranked  it  with  the  Helle- 
bores, until  Mr.  Salisbury  very  properly  separat- 
ed it  from  a  family  of  plants,  with  which  it  wholly 
disagrees  in  habit,  and  constituted  a  new  genus 
by  the  name  of  Coptis,  This  genus  is  character- 
ized by  the  following  marks.  Calyx  none  ;  petals 
Jive  or  six,  caducous ;  nectaries  five  or  six,  cu- 
cullate;  capsules  from  five  to  eight,  pedicelled,  leak- 
ed, many  seeded.  The  species  trifolia  has  ternate 
leaves,  and  a  onefiowered  scape, 

*  "  Non  sine  admiratione  vidi  non  solum  multas  cum  rarissimis 
nostris  plantis  Lapponicis  communes,  sed  etiam  alias,  partim  ignotas 
omnino,  partim  minirae  tritas ;  et  denique  quasdam  etiam  cum  Cana- 
densibus  easdem,  argumento  Canadam  a  Camscatca  non  longe  dista- 
re,  uti  sequentes  antea  in  sola  America  boreali  visse,  nunc  etiam  in 
estrema  ora  Siberiee."  dmmniiaies  Academiccs,  ii.  310. 


6S  COPTIS  TRIFOLIA. 

In  botanical  arrangements,  the  Coptis  will  fol- 
low the  Hellebores,  from  which  it  was  taken,  re- 
maining in  the  class  and  order  Polyandria,  Folygy- 
nia,  with  the  Multisiliquse  of  Linn  sens  and  the 
Eanunculacese  of  Jussieu. 

The  roots  of  this  plant,  from  which  the  name 
of  goldthread  is  taken,  are  perennial  and  creeping. 
On  removing  the  moss  and  decayed  leaves  from 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  they  discover  them- 
selves of  a  bright  yeUow  colour,  running  in  every 
direction.  The  bases  of  the  new  stems  are  in- 
vested with  a  number  of  yellowish,  ovate,  acumi- 
nate stipules.  Leaves  ternate,  on  long  slender 
petioles  ;  leafets  roundish,  acute  at  base,  lobed 
and  crenate,  the  crenatures  acuminate  ;  smooth, 
firm,  veiny.  Scape  slender,  round,  bearing  one 
small,  starry  white  flower,  and  a  minute,  ovate, 
acute  bracte  at  some  distance  below.  Calyx  none. 
Petals  ^\e,  six  or  seven,  oblong,  concave,  white. 
Nectaries  five  or  six,  inversely  conical,  hollow,  yel- 
low at  the  mouth.  Stamens  numerous,  white, 
with  capillary  filaments  and  roundish  anthers. 
Germs  from  five  to  seven,  stipitate,  oblong,  com- 
^ pressed ;  styles  recurved.  Capsules  pedicelled, 
umbelled,  oblong,  compressed,  beaked,  with  nu- 
merous black  oval  seeds  attached  to  the  inner  side. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  a  pure  intense  bitter, 


GOLD  THREAD.  63 

scarcely  modified  by  any  other  taste.     In  distilla- 
tion it  communicates  no  decided  sensible  quality 
to  water.     The   constituent  with  which  it  most 
abounds  is  a  bitter  extractive  matter,  soluble  both 
in  water  and  alcohol.     It  seems  destitute  of  resi* 
nous  or  gummy  portions,  since  the  residuum  from 
an  evaporated  solution  in  alcohol  is  readily  dissolv- 
ed in  water,  and  vice  versa.     It  is  devoid  of  astrin- 
gency  when  chewed  in  the  mouth,  and  it  gives  no 
indication  of  the  presence  of  tannin  or  gallic  acid 
when  tested  with  animal  gelatin,  or  with  sulphate 
of  iron.     The  abundance  of  the  bitter  principle 
is  evinced  by  the  acetate  of  lead  and  nitrate  of  sil- 
ver, both  of  which  throw  down  a  copious  precipi- 
tate.    The  sulphuric,  nitric,  and  muriatic  acids 
occasion  no  change,  and  the  muriate  of  tin  gives 
only  a  slight  precipitate,  after  some  time  standing. 
Of  this  article  larger  quantities  are  sold  in  the 
druggists'  shops  in  Boston,  than  of  almost  any  in- 
digenous production.     The  demand  for  it  arises 
from  its  supposed  efiicacy  as  a  local  application  in 
aphthous,  and  other   ulcerations  of  the  mouth. 
Its  reputation  however  in  these  cases  is  wholly 
unmerited,   since  it  possesses  no    astringent   or 
stimulating  quality,  by  which  it  can  act  on  the  ul- 
cerated spots,  and  where  benefit  has  attended  its 
use,  it  is  doubtless  to  be  ascribed  to  other  articles 


64*  COPTIS  TRIPOLI  A. 

possessing  the  above  properties,  with  which  it  is 
usually  combined. 

As  a  pure  tonic  bitter,  capable  of  strengthen- 
ing the  viscera  and  promoting  digestion,  it  is  en- 
titled to  rank  with  most  articles  of  that  kind  now 
in  use.  Its  character  resembles  that  of  Gen- 
tian, Quassia,  and  Columbo,  being  a  simple  bitter 
without  aroma  or  astringency.  The  tincture,  made 
by  digesting  half  an  ounce  of  the  bruised  root  in 
eight  ounces  of  diluted  alcohol,  forms  a  preparation 
of  a  fine  yellow  colour,  possessing  the  whole  bit- 
terness of  the  plant.  I  have  given  it  in  various  in- 
stances to  dyspeptics  and  convalescents,  who  have 
generally  expressed  satisfaction  from  its  effects, 
at  least,  as  frequently  as  from  other  medicines  of 
its  class.  A  teaspoonful  may  be  taken  three  times 
a  day.  In  substance,  it  rests  well  on  the  stomach 
in  doses  of  ten  or  twenty  grains.  It  is  however 
difficult  to  reduce  to  powder  on  account  of  the  te- 
nacity of  its  fibres. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Coptis  ti-ifolia  Salisbury,  Lin.  Trans,  viii.  305. — ^Pursh,  ii. 
390. — Helleborus  trifolius,  sp.  pi. — WiiiD.  ii.  1338.  Kalm, 
Travels,  iii.  379. — LEPECH.ifer  i.  190. — Paiias,  Jlfer.  iii.  34. — 
Oeder,  F.  Dan.  t.  566.— Michaux,  Fl.  i.  S^S.^Amccn.  dead, 
ii.  356,  t.  4./.  18. 


GOLD  THREAD.  05 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Helleborus  trifolius,  Bart.  ColL  Nigella. — Cutlee,  Amer, 
dead.  i.  457. — ^Thacher,  Bisp.  283. 


PLATE  V. 

Fig.  1.  Coptis  trifolia  with  the  root,  leaves f  Jlowers  and  last 
yearns  fruit. 

Fig,  2.  MctarieSf  stamens,  and  pistils  magnijied. 

I      Fig.  3.  Section  of  a  capsule  shewing  the  seeds. 


ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 


Bear  berry. 


PLATE  ri, 

-T  EW  shrubs  are  more  extensively  diffused 
throughout  the  northern  hemisphere,  both  in  the 
old  and  new  continents,  than  this  trailing  ever- 
green. We  are  told  that  it  abounds  in  the  nortli- 
ern  parts  of  Europe,  in  Sweden,  Lapland,  and  Ice- 
land, and  extends  southerly  to  the  shores  of  the 
Mediterranean,  In  Siberia  it  is  also  found,  and  is 
represented  as  abundant  on  the  banks  of  the 
Wolga.  In  North  America  it  grows  from  Hud- 
son's bay  as  far  south,  at  least,  as  the  central 
parts  of  the  United  States.  It  occupies  the  most 
barren  places,  such  as  gravelly  hills  and  dry, 
sandy  woods,  and  covers  the  ground  with  beds  of 
considerable  extent. 


er- 


cc- 


the 
ad- 


Irv, 


BEAR  BERRY,  67 

The  family  of  plants  bearing  the  name  of  Ar- 
butus have  for  their  distinctive  marks  a  jive-part- 
ed calyx,  an  ovate  corolla,  pellucid  at  base  ;  and 
a  superior,  five-celled  berry.  They  are  closely 
connected  to  the  Vaccinia  or  whortleberries,  from 
which  they  differ  principally  in  the  situation  of 
the  berry,  which  in  the  Arbutus  gro\^s  above 
the  calyx,  and  in  the  Vaccinium  below  it.^ — Both 
these  genera,  at  least  the  American  species,  prop- 
erly belong  to  the  class  Becandria  and  order  Mano- 
gynia.  The  Linna3an  natural  order  is  Bicornes. 
Jussieu  has  them  among  his  Ericce. 

The  species  Uva  ursi.  Bear's  grape  or  Bear- 
berry  is  known  from  the  rest  by  its  procumbent 
stem  and  entire  leaves. — It  trails  upon  the  ground, 
putting  out  roots  from  the  principal  stems,,  and 
tending  upward  with  the  young  shoots^  only.  The 
cuticle  is  deciduous,  and  peels  off  from  the  old 
stems.  Leaves  scattered,  obovate,  acute  at  base, 
attached  by  short  petioles,  coriaceous,  evergreen^ 
glabrous,  shining  above,  paler  beneath,  entire,  the 
margin  rounded,  but  scarcely  reflexed,  and  in  the 
young  ones  pubescent.  Flowers  in  a  short  cluster 
on  the  ends  of  the  branches.  Peduncles  reflexed, 
furnished  at  base  with  a  short  acute  bracte  under- 
neath, and  two  minute  ones  at  the  sides.  Calvx 
of  five  roundish  segments,  of  a  reddish  colour  and 


68  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 

persistent.  Corolla  ovate  or  urceolate,  white  with 
a  reddish  tinge,  transparent  at  base,  contracted 
at  the  mouth,  hairy  inside,  with  five  short,  reilex- 
ed  segments.  Stamens  inserted  at  the  base  of  the 
corolla  with  hairy  filaments,  and  anthers  with  two 
horns  and  two  pores  in  each.  Germ  round,  style 
straight,  longer  than  the  stamens,  stigma  simple. 
Sectary  a  black  indented  ring,  situated  below  the 
germ,  and  remaining  tiU  the  fruit  is  ripe.  Ber- 
ries globular,  depressed,  of  a  deep  red,  approach- 
ing scarlet,  containing  an  insipid,  mealy  pulp,  and 
.  about  five  seeds,  which  in  the  American  plant  co- 
here strongly  together,  so  as  to  appear  like  the  nu- 
cleus of  a  drupe. 

The  leaves  and  stems  of  the  Uva  ursi  are  used 
in  Sweden  and  Hussia  for  the  purpose  of  tanning 
leather.  According  to  Linnseus,  large  quantities 
are  annually  collected  for  this  use. 

When  chewed  in  the  mouth,  the  leaves  have 
an  astringent  taste,  combined  with  some  degree  of 
bitterness.  The  result  of  such  chemical  trials  as 
I  have  made  with  them,  shews  that  they  abound 
in  tannin,  which  is  probably  their  chief  active  con- 
stituent. A  solution  of  gelatin  occasions  a  copi- 
ous precipitate  ;  sulphate  of  iron  an  equally  co- 
pious one  of  a  black  colour.  Mtrate  of  mercury 
and  lime  water  gave  large  precipitates  from  the 


BEAR  BERRY.  69 

decoction,  the  first  of  a  light  green,  the  last  of  a 
brownish  colour.  Of  the  existence  of  gallic  acid, 
at  least  as  it  exists  in  galls,  I  have  found  no  suffi- 
cient proof.  The  decoction  does  not  redden  vege- 
table blues,  and  the  black  precipitate  with  the  sul- 
phate of  iron  soon  subsides,  leaving  the  fluid  nearly 
colourless.  The  quantity  of  resin,  mucous  mat- 
ter and  extractive,  provided  they  exist  in  this  plant, 
must  be  minute  ;  since  the  decoction  was  not  ren- 
dered turbid  by  the  addition  of  alcohol  or  ether, 
nor  the  tincture  by  the  addition  of  water,  although 
after  standing  twenty  four  hours,  some  slight  floc- 
culi  appeared.  Muriate  of  tin  produced  no  precip- 
itation from  the  decoction,  though  it  gave  one  from 
the  tincture.  Acetite  of  lead  and  nitrate  of  sil- 
ver gave  large  precipitates.  "Water  distilled  from 
this  plant,  suffered  no  change  with  sulphate  of 
ii'on,  or  muriate  of  tin. 

Professor  Murray  of  Gottingen,  finding  a  great- 
er amount  of  soluble  matter  taken  up  by  water 
than  by  alcohol,  considers  the  former  as  the  best 
menstruum  for  this  article.  A  similar  inference 
from  the  American  plant  was  made  by  Dr.  John 
S.  Mitchell  in  an  inaugural  dissertation,  published 
at  Philadelphia  in  1803.  For  medical  uses,  31ur- 
ray  prefers  the  decoction  to  the  infusion. 


yO  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 

The  Uva  ursi  was  probably  known  to  the  an- 
cients, as  it  grows  in  all  the  southern  parts  of  Eu- 
rope. Clusius  thinks  it  was  the  u^ktov  o-TccCpuXti  of 
Galen,  celebrated  by  him  as  a  remedy  in  hemop- 
tysis, and  described  as  follows.  "Uva  ursi  in 
Ponto  nascitur,  planta  humilis  et  fruticosa.  folio 
Memaicyli,  fructum  ferens  rubrum,  rotundum, 
ffustu  austerum."  But  it  is  well  known  that  the 
brief  and  imperfect  descriptions  of  the  ancients 
were  productive  of  little  else  than  uncertainty  in 

Botany. 

In  modern  times  the  Uva  ursi  was  brought 
into  notice  about  the  middle  of  the  eighteenth 
century  by  De  Haen,  as  an  efficient  remedy  in 
nephritic  and  even  in  calculous  cases.  It  had 
been  previously  in  use  for  these  complaints  in 
Spain,  at  Naples  and  Montpellier,  and  as  a  gener- 
al astringent,  at  a  still  earlier  period.  Its  reputa- 
tion was  still  further  augmented  by  subsequent 
dissertations,  published  upon  its  properties,  and 
different  sets  of  experiments  were  instituted  to 
ascertain  if  it  were  not  actually  capable  of  dissolv- 
ing the  stone  of  the  bladder.  The  results  most  in 
favour  of  its  solvent  power  were  those  of  Girardi,^ 
who  diminished  the  weight  and  consistency  of  uri- 
nary calculi,  by  digesting  them  in  a  preparatioa 
of  this  plant.     It  appears  however  that  the  prep- 


BEAR  BERRY.  71 

aration,  wliich  he  employed,  was  an  acid  liquor, 
obtained  by  a  destruf  tive  distillation  of  the  leaves, 
and  probably  not  superior  to  other  weak  acids  in 
its  solvent  powers.  On  the  other  hand,  Professor 
Murray  found  what  might  reasonably  be  expect- 
ed, that  these  calculi  were  not  materially  affected 
by  long  digestion  in  a  decoction  of  this  plant  at 
various  temperatures. 

The  attention  of  many  medical  writers  has 
been  called  to  the  properties  of  this  medicine, 
and  their  reports  as  to  its  success  are  extremely 
various.  Among  its  greatest  friends,  are  De 
Haen,  Professor  Murray,  and  Dr.  Ferriar  ;  while 
of  those  whose  opinion  is  more  unfavourable,  are 
Sauvages,  Haller,  Donald,  Munro  and  FothergiU. 
Dr.  CuUen  adopts  the  opinion  of  De  Heucher,  that 
the  symptoms  of  calculus  generally  are  suscepti- 
ble of  relief  from  astringents,  and  believes  that  on 
this  principle  the  Uva  ursi  is  capable  of  mitigat- 
ing complaints  arising  from  that  source.* 

In  this  country  the  Uva  ursi  has  acquired  the 
good  opinion  of  practitioners  of  medicine  in  re- 

*  In  the  preface  to  the  third  volume  of  Medical  Observations  and 
Inquiries,  published  at  London,  it  is  stated  in  very  general  terms,  that 
the  Uva  ursi  had  been  prescribed  unsuccessfully  hj  msnnj  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Society  of  Physicians  in  London.  Dr.  Woodville,  in  his 
Medical  Botany,  has  unfortunately  misquoted  this  passage,  by  read- 
ing "  successfully"  instead  of"  unsuccessfully." 


7S  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 

peated  instances.  Professor  Wistar  of  Phila- 
delphia, as  cited  by  Dr.  Mitchell,  has  in  several 
cases  found  symptoms  like  those  of  urinary  calcu- 
lus completely  removed  by  this  medicine.  But 
these  could  not  probably  have  been  cases  of  real 
calculus.  The  late  Professor  Barton  found  the 
plant  of  much  service  in  his  own  case  of  nephrit- 
ic paroxysms,  alternating  with  gout  in  the  feet. 

From  the  various  testimonies  which  have  been 
given  respecting  the  properties  of  this  article,  we 
are  not  warranted  in  believing  it  to  possess  any 
real  lithontriptic  power.  At  the  same  time  it  un- 
doubtedly proves  a  palliative  for  calculous  symp- 
toms in  many  cases. 

I  have  repeatedly  watched  its  effects  in  parox- 
ysms of  nephritis,  brought  on  by  gravelly  concre- 
tions, and  am  on  the  whole  inclined  to  believe  in 
its  tendency  to  allay  sensibility  in  these  cases, 
and  to  hasten  the  relief  of  the  symptoms.  It 
ought  generally  to  be  preceded  by  evacuationSj 
and  may  be  advantageously  accompanied  with 
opium. — In  cases  of  dysury  arising  from  a  vari- 
ety of  causes,  I  have  given  the  decoction  of  this 
plant  with  very  satisfactory  success  in  repeated 
instances. 

The  other  diseases  in  which  this  plant  has  been 
recommended  are,  catarrhus  yesicse,  leucorrhsea 


BEAR  BERRY,  73 

mid  gonorrhsea.  Ali  these  complaints  it  has  doubt- 
less cured,  but  is  at  the  same  time  inferior  to 
other  medicines  in  use  for  the  same  purposes. 

Some  years  ago  the  Uva  ursi  was  recommend- 
ed as  a  remedy  in  pulmonary  consumption  bvBr, 
Bourne  of  Oxford  in  England,  and  by  other  wri- 
ters in  the  periodical  works.  It  was  stated  to 
have  a  very  sensible  effect  in  diminishing  hectic 
fever,  and  abating  the  frequency  of  the  pulse  de- 
pendent on  it.  We  do  not  find  however  that  sub- 
sequent experience  has  justilied  the  expectations 
formed  of  it  in  this  disease. 

In  Dr.  Mitchell's  experiments  on  the  pulse 
with  this  medicine,  it  appears  that  the  pulsations 
were  sometimes,  not  always,  slightly  increased  af- 
ter taking  it,  but  that  in  every  case  they  soon 
sunk  below  the  natural  standard,  and  remained  so 
for  some  time. 

Of  the  powder  of  the  leaves  of  Uva  ursi,  from 
one  to  two  scruples  may  be  given  to  most  patients. 
Br.    Ferriar's    dose   in    nephritis  was  from  five 
to  ten  grains,  but  a  larger  quantity  is  more  effec- 
tual, and  is  readily  borne  by  the   stomach.     The 
decoction   may   be    made    from    half  an    ounce 
of  the  leaves  boiled  for  ten  minutes   in  a  pint  of 
water.     From  a  wine  glass  to  a  gill  of  this  may 
be  taken  every  hour. 
10 


74  ARBUTUS  UVA  URSI. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Arbutus  Uva  ursi,  LiNN-aEUs,  Fl.  Lapponica,  162,  t.  vi./.  3.— * 
Oeder,  Fl.  Ban.  t.  33. — ^Woodville,  i.  t.  70. — Smith,  Fl.  BriU 
443. — Engl.  Bot.  t.  714. — Michaux,  Fl.  i.  249. — Pursh,  i.  282. 

Uva  ursi,  J.  Batjhin,  i.  523. — Ciusius,  Mspan.  79. — Lobei, 

Icon.}.  366.-— PAKKiNSOif,  theatr.  1457. — ^Vitis  Idsea,  Raius,  HisU 
1489, 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  Apparatus  Med.  ii.  64. — Girardi,  de  Uva  ursina, 
&c. — De  HABJf,  Ratio  medendh  ii.  160,  &c. — Satjvages,  J^'osol. 
iii.  2,  200. — D.  Munro,  Mat.  Med.  iii.  288. — Fothergill,  Med, 
Obs.  144. — Axexander,  Exp.  essays,  151. — Ferriar  i.  109. — 
Hebbrden  79,  360. — Davie,  Med.  and  Phys.  Journal,  xv.  347. — 
BouRivE,  in  ditto,  xiv.^463. — Schcepf,  67. — Mitchell,  Inaugu- 
ral Thesis. 


PLATE  VI. 

Fig.  1.  »:irhutus  Uva  ursi,  the  American  vanety. 

Fig.  2.  The  magnijied  corolla  opened,  shewing  the  insertion  of 
the  stamens. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx,  nectary,  germ,  and  stijle  magnified. 

Fig.  4,  Calyx  and  nectary. 

Fig.  5.  Berry. 


^t: 


/■/ .  /  //. 


•  Aim 


^^mg'MMafya^ 


^rt//a^/^/fM» 


/; 


i:.r«, 


T>0'?;?^f 


•IJUS^S, 


;i^ 


7Q  SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

The  flower  and  leaf  proceed  from  the  end  of 
a  horizontal,  fleshy,  abrupt  root,  fed  by  numerous 
radicles.  This  root  makes  ofi'sets  from  its  sides, 
which  separate  as  the  old  root  decays,  acquiring 
by  this  separation  the  abrupt  or  premorse  form. 

Externally  the  colour  of  the  root  is  a  brownish 
red.  Internally  it  is  pale,  and  when  divided  emits 
a  bright  orange  coloured  juice  from  numerous 
points  of  its  surface.  The  bud  or  hybernaculum, 
which  terminates  the  root,  is  composed  of  succes- 
sive scales  or  sheaths,  the  last  of  which  acquires  a 
considerable  size,  as  the  plant  springs  up.  By 
dissecting  this  hybernaculum  in  the  summer  or 
autumn,  we  may  discover  the  embryo  leaf  and 
flower  of  the  succeeding  spring,  and  with  a  com- 
mon magnifier,  even  the  stamens  may  be  counted. 

The  Sanguinaria  is  smooth  throughout.  The 
leaves  grow  on  long  channelled  petioles.  When 
spread  out,  they  are  reniform  or  heart  shaped, 
with  large  roundish  lobes  separated  by  obtuse  si- 
nuses. The  under  side  is  strongly  reticulated 
with  veins ;  it  is  paler  than  the  upper,  and  at  length 
becomes  glaucous.  The  scape  is  round,  rises  in 
front  of  the  petiole,  and  is  infolded  by  the  young 
leaf.  The  calyx  consists  of  two  concave,  ovate, 
obtuse  leaves,  which  are  perfect  in  the  bud,  but 
fall  off  when  the  corolla  expands.     Petals  eight, 


BLOOD  ROOT.  77 

spreading,  concave,  obtuse,  the  alternate  or  ex- 
ternal ones  longer,  so  that  the  flower  has  a 
squai'e  appearance.  This  is  its  natural  charac- 
ter, although  cultivation  sometimes  increases  the 
number  of  petals.  Stamens  numerous,  with  ob- 
long yellow  anthers.  Germ  oblong,  compressed, 
style  none,  stigma  thick,  somewhat  two  lobed. 
Capsule  oblong,  acute  at  both  extremities,  two 
valved.  Seeds  numerous,  roundish,  compressed, 
dark  shining  red,  half  surrounded  with  a  peculiar 
white  vermiform  appendage,  which  projects  at  the 
lower  end. 

After  the  flower  has  fallen,  the  leaves  continue 
to  grow,  and  by  midsummer  have  acquired-so  large 
a  size  as  to  appear  like  a  different  plant. 

The  root  of  this  vegetable  is  the  only  part 
which  I  have  submitted  to  chemical  examination. 
The  experiments  made  on  this  substance,  gave 
evidence  of  the  following  constituent  principles. 

1.  A  peculiar  resin.  Alcohol  comes  ofl*from 
the  root  strongly  impregnated  with  its  colour  and 
taste.  This  solution  is  rendered  turbid  by  the 
addition  of  water.  When  evaporated  to  dryness, 
it  leaves  a  residuum  partially,  but  not  wholly  soluble 
in  water.  When  successive  quantities  of  water 
have  been  agitated  with  the  powdered  root  until 
the  infusion  comes  off  colourless,  alcohol  acquu-es 


78  SANGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

a  colour  from  the  remainder.  jEtlier  receives 
from  the  root  a  yellowish  colom',  and  when  eva- 
porated, leaves  the  resin  nearly  pure.  In  this 
state  it  is  moderately  adhesive,  of  a  deep  orange 
colour,  bitter  and  acrid,  diffusible,  bat  not  soluble 
in  water.  The  resin  may  also  be  precipitated  in 
small  quantities  from  alcohol  by  water. 

S.  A  bitter  principle.  Both  water  and  alcohol 
acquire  a  strong  bitter  taste  when  digested  on  the 
root.  From  both  these  solutions  a  copious  pre- 
cipitate is  thrown  down  by  the  nitrate  of  silver 
and  the  acetite  of  lead.  3Iuriate  of  tin  gradually 
renders  the  solution  turbid,  but  without  a  precipi- 
tate. Oxymuriatic  acid  renders  the  alcoholic  so- 
lution turbid,  but  produces  no  change  in  the  wa- 
tery solution  for  some  time.  At  length  a  precip- 
itate forms  and  slowly  subsides;  but  produces  no 
change  in  the  watery  solution.  No  precipitate  was 
formed  from  the  cold  aqueous  infusion  in  an  hour 
by  the  sulphuric  or  nitric  acids,  by  lime  water,  ni- 
trate of  mercury,  muriate  of  barytes,  oxalate  of 
ammonia,  sulphate  of  iron,  gelatine  or  hydro-sul- 
phuret  of  potash.  After  standing  twenty  four 
hours,  a  very  slight  precipitate  was  discovered 
from  the  lime  water  and  nitrate  of  mercury  onl}^ 
3.  An  acrid  principle.  The  acrimony  resides 
in  part  in  the  resin,  but  is  also  communicated  to 


BLOOD  ROOT.  79 

water.     It  is  diminished  by  heat,  yet  it  does  not 
come  over  with  water  in  distillation. 

4.  Fsecula.  The  infusion  of  the  root  in  cold 
water  is  limpid.  The  hot  infusion  is  viscid  and 
glutinous  and  stiffens  linen.  From  this  solution 
the  fascula  is  precipitated  in  a  white  powder  by  al- 
cohol. Nitric  acid  dissolves  this  precipitate,  which 
may  be  again  thrown  down  by  alcohol. 

5.  A  fibrous  or  woody  portion. 

The  beautiful  colour  of  the  root  seems  to  re- 
side more  in  the  resin  than  in  any  other  princi- 
ple, since  the  alcoholic  solution  has  always  more 
than  twice  as  much  colour  as  the  aqueous.     Pa- 
pers dipt  in  these  solutions  receive  a  bright  salmon 
colour  from  the  tincture,  but  a  very  faint  one  from 
the  aqueous  infusion.     This  circumstance  furnish- 
es an  impediment  to  the  use  of  this  article  in  dyeing. 
The  medical  properties  of  the  Sanguinaria  are 
those  of  an  acrid  narcotic.     When  taken  in  a  large 
dose  it  irritates  the  fauces,  leaving  an  impression 
in  the  throat  for  considerable  time  after  it  is  swal- 
lowed.    It  occasions  heartburn,  nausea,  faintness, 
and   frequently   vertigo    and   diminished   vision. 
At  length  it  vomits,  but  in  this  operation  it  is  less 
certain  than  other  emetics  in  common  use.     The 
above  effects  are  produced  by  a  dose  of  from  eight 
to  twenty  grains  of  the  fresh  powdered  root. 


so  SAN GUIN ARIA  CANADENSIS. 

When  given  in  smaller  doses,  such  as  produce 
nausea  without  vomiting,  and  repeated  at  fre- 
quent intervals,  it  lessens  the  frequency  of  the 
pulse  in  a  manner  somewhat  analogous  to  the  op- 
eration of  Digitalis.  This  however  is  a  seconda- 
ry effect,  since  in  its  primary  operation  it  seems 
to  accelerate  the  circulation.  Exhibited  in  this 
manner,  it  has  been  found  useful  in  several 
diseases. 

In  still  smaller  doses,  or  such  as  do  not  excite 
nausea,  it  has  acquired  some  reputation  as  a  tonic 
stimulant. 

Professor  Smith  of  Hanover,  New  Hampshire, 
in  a  paper  on  this  plant,  published  in  the  London 
Medical  Transactions,  vol.  i.  states  that  he  found 
the  powder  to  operate  violently  as  an  emetic,  pro- 
ducing great  prostration  of  strength,  during  its 
operation,  which  continued  for  some  time.  He  liad 
not  known  it  to  act  as  a  cathartic.  Snuffed  up  the 
nostrils,  it  proved  sternutatory,  and  left  a  sensa- 
tion of  heat  for  some  time.  Applied  to  fungous 
flesh  it  proved  escliarotic,  and  several  polypi  of  the 
soft  kind  were  cured  by  it  in  his  hands.  He  found 
it  of  great  use  in  the  incipient  stages  of  pulmona- 
ry consumption,  given  in  as  large  doses  as  the 
stomach  would  bear,  and  repeated.  In  cases  of 
great  irritation  it  was  combined  with  opium.  Some 


BLOOD  ROOT.  81 

other  complaints  were  benefitted  by  it,  such  as 
acute  rheumatism  and  jaundice. 

Professor  Ives  of  New  Haven*  considers  the 
Blood  root  as  a  remedy  of  importance  in  many  dis- 
eases, particularly  of  the  lungs  and  liver.  He  ob- 
serves, that  in  typhoid  pneumonia,  "in  plethoric 
constitutions,  when  respiration  is  very  difiicult, 
the  cheeks  and  hands  become  livid,  the  pulse  full 
soft,  vibrating  and  easily  compressed, — the  Blood 
root  has  done  more  to  obviate  the  symptoms  and 
remove  the  disease,"  than  any  remedy  which  he 
has  used.  In  such  cases,  he  observes,  "  the  dose 
must  be  large  in  proportion  to  the  violence  of  the 
disease,  and  often  repeated,  until  it  excites  vomit- 
ing, or  relieves  the  symptoms."  He  infuses  from 
a  scruple  to  half  a  drachm  of  the  powdered  root 
in  half  a  gill  of  hot  water,  and  gives  one  or  two  tea- 
spoonfuls  every  half  hour,  in  urgent  cases,  until 
the  effect  is  produced.  This  treatment  has  often 
removed  the  symptoms  in  a  few  hours. 

Dr.  Ives  thinks  highly  of  its  use  in  influenza, 
in  phthisis,  and  particularly  in  hooping  cough. 
He  also  states,  that  given  in  large  doses,  sufficient 
to  produce  full  vomiting,  it  often  removes  the 
Croup,  if  administered  in  the  first  stages.  It  has 
been  given,  he  remarks,  "for  many  years  in  the 

*  Letter  dated  November  5, 1816. 
11 


82  SAUGUINARIA  CANADENSIS. 

country,  some  physicians  relying  wholly  on  this 
remedy  for  the  cure  of  croup." 

Dr.  Macbride,  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  who  has 
contributed  many  judicious  remarks  on  the  medi- 
cinal properties  of  plants,  to  Mr.  Elliott's  excel- 
lent Botany  of  the  Southern  States ;  informs  me,* 
that  he  has  found  the  Blood  root  useful  in  Hy- 
drothorax,  given  in  doses  of  sixty  drops,  ter  de  die, 
and  increased  until  nausea  followed  each  dose. 
In  a  week  or  two  the  good  eifect  was  evident,  the 
pulse  being  rendered  slow  and  regular,  and  the 
respiration  much  improved.  In  the  same  letter 
he  observes,  "  In  torpor  of  the  liver,  attended  with 
colic  and  yellowness  of  the  skin,  a  disease  com- 
mon in  this  climate,  I  use  the  Puccoon  with  evi- 
dent advantage.  We  use  it  also  in  jaundice,  but 
in  this  disease  I  do  not  trust  exclusively  to  it.  I 
prefer  the  pill  or  powder  (dose  from  two  to  five 
grains)  and  vinous  infusion,  to  the  spirituous  tinc- 
ture." 

The  tincture  of  Sanguinaria  may  be  made  by 
digesting  an  ounce  of  the  powdered  root  in  eight 
ounces  of  diluted  alcohol.  This  preparation  pos- 
sesses all  the  bitterness,  but  less  of  the  nauseat- 
ing quality,  than  the  infusion.  In  the  dose  of  a 
small  teaspoonful,  it  is  used  by  many  practitioners 

*  Letter  dated  December,  1816. 


BLOOD  ROOT.  8S 

as  a  stimulating  tonic,  capable  of  increasing  the 
appetite  and  promoting  digestion. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Sanguinaria  Canadensis,  Lin.  sp<,  pi. — Curtis,  Botan.  Mag^ 
t.  162. — AiToiv,  Hort.  ICe%v,  ii.  222. — Waiter,  Carol.  153.— 
MiCHAUx,  Flora  1,  309.' — Pursh,  ii.  366. — Sanguinaria  minor, 
BixiENius,  Elth.  /.  326  and  S.  major,  /  325  in  t.  252. — Cheli- 
donium  maximum  acaulon  Canadense  Raius,  Hist.  1887. — Ran- 
unculus Virg.  albus.  Parkinsoiv,  Th.  326. — Chelidonium  ma- 
jus  Canad.  acaulon  Cornutus,  Canad.  212. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHffiPF,  85. — Smith,  Trans.  Lond.  Med.  Society,  i.  179.— » 
Bart.  Coll.  28. — CuTiER,  Mem.  dmer.  dead.  i.  455. — Thacher>, 
Bisp.  331. 


GEEAMUM  MACULATUM. 


Common  CraneshilL 


PLATE  nil. 

JLN  common  language  the  term  Geranium  in- 
cludes all  that  extensive  tribe  of  plants  comprised 
by  the  old  genus  of  that  name,  and  principally 
characterised  by  their  beaked  fruit  and  five  seeds 
■which  are  scattered  by  means  of  awns.  L'Heri- 
tier  has  divided  this  family  into  three  distinct  gen- 
era, under  different  orders  in  the  artificial  class 
Monmlelphia.  These  are  Erodium^  haviog  five  sta- 
mens, five  nectariferous  scales  and  glands,  and  the 
awns  of  the  fruit  twisted  and  bearded.  Pelargoni' 
uin,  which  includes  most  of  the  Cape  species  so 
commonly  cultivated  among  us,  having  about  seven 
stamens,  an  irregular  corolla,  and  a  nectareous  tube 
running  down  the  peduncle.  Lastly,  Geranium 
having  ten  stamens,  a  regular  corolla,  five  nee- 


yj.  \iu. 


COMMON  CEANESBILL.  8S 

tariferous  glands  at  the  base  of  the  longer  fila- 
ments, the  awns  of  the  fruit  neither  bearded  nor 
twisted.  To  this  division  belongs  the  plant  under 
consideration,  which  has  the  following  specific 
character.  Erect,  hairy  backward  ;  stem  forked; 
leaves  opposite,  three  or  jive  parted,  cut;  peduncles 
mostly  two  flowered  ;  petals,  ohovate,  entire, 

Jussieu  has  formed  a  natural  order  by  the 
name  of  Gerania,  which  nearly  corresponds  to  the 
Gruinales  of  Linnseus. 

Although  we  have  few  species  of  Geranium 
in  the  United  States,  yet  the  present  species,  by  its 
extensive  diffusion,  is  a  sufficient  representative 
of  the  race.  It  is  very  common  in  low  grounds, 
about  Boston  and  Philadelphia,  in  the  Carolinas, 
and  in  the  western  country  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Ohio  and  Illinois. 

The  root  of  Geranium  maculatum  is  perennial, 
horizontal,  thick,  rough  and  knobby.  In  most 
plants  it  sends  up  a  stem  and  several  root  leaves. 
The  leaves  are  spreading,  hairy,  divided  in  a  pal- 
mate manner  into  three,  five,  or  seven  lobes,  which 
are  variously  cut  and  toothed  at  their  extremi- 
ties ;  those  of  the  root  are  on  long  petioles,  those 
at  the  middle  of  the  stem  opposite  and  petioled, 
those  at  the  top  opposite  and  nearly  sessile.  The 
stem  is  erect,  round,  hispid  with  reversed  hairs, 


86  GERANIUM  MACULATUM. 

dichotomous,  with  a  flower  stalk  in  the  fork.     Sti- 
pules and  bractes  linear,  dilated  at  base.     Pedun- 
cles round,  hairy,  swelling  at  base,  generally  two 
flowered.     Calyx  of  five  oblong,  ribbed,  mucron- 
ated  leaves,  with  the  parts,  which  are  outermost 
in  the  bud,  hairy.    Petals  five,  obovate,  not  emargi- 
nate,  of  a  light  purple  colour,  which  is   deeper 
when  the  plant  grows  in  the  shade,  marked  with 
green  at  the  base.     Stamens  ten,  erect  or  curving 
outward,  the  alternate  ones  a  little  longer,  with 
nectariferous  glands  at  the  base  ;  filaments  dilat- 
ed and  united  together  at  base  ;    anthers  oblong, 
deciduous,  so  that  the  number  frequently  appears 
less   than  ten.     Germ  ovate ;    style   straight,  as 
long  as  the  stamens  ;    stigmas  five,  at  first  erect, 
afterwards  recurved.      Capsule  hje  seeded,  sur- 
mounted by  a  long  straight  beak,  from  the  sides  of 
which  when  ripe  are  separated  five  thin,  flat  awns, 
which  curl  up,  having  cast  off  the  seed  contained 
in  the  cell  at  the  base  of  each. 

The  root  of  the  Geranium,  which  is  the  part  to 
be  used  in  medicine,  is  internally  of  a  green  col- 
our, and  when  dry  is  exceedingly  brittle  and  easi- 
ly reduced  to  powder.  It  is  one  of  the  most  pow- 
erful astringents  we  possess,  and  from  its  decided 
properties,  as  well  as  the  ease  of  procuring  it,  it 
may  well  supersede  in  medicine  many  foreign  ar- 


COMMON  CRANESBILL.  87 

tides  of  its  class  which  are  consumed  among  us. 
The  experiments,  which  I  have  made  upon  this 
root,  have  been  principally  directed  to  the  exami- 
nation of  its  astringent  qualities. 

A  drachm  of  the  powdered  root  was  steeped  in 
two  ounces  of  cold  water  and  the  infusion  filtrat- 
ed. Successive  portions  of  water  were  add- 
ed until  the  liquid  came  off  colourless  and  taste- 
less. The  collected  infusion  had  a  pale  greenish 
colour,  and  a  styptic,  austere  taste.  It  did  not 
redden  vegetable  blues. 

To  half  this  infusion  was  added  a  drachm  of 
gelatin  in  solution.  The  liquor  instantly  became 
of  a  milky  whiteness,  and  a  copious  white  precipi- 
tate was  thrown  down.  This  precipitate  was  dri- 
ed and  assumed  a  semi-transparent,  horny  ap- 
pearance.    Its  weight  was  eleven  grains. 

A  drachm  of  kino  treated  in  the  same  man- 
ner was  rendered  turbid,  but  gave  a  very  scanty 
precipitate  with  the  gelatin. 

To  portions  of  the  same  infusions  was  added  a 
solution  of  the  muriate  of  tin.  In  both  of  them  a 
greenisli  precipitate  was  formed,  but  that  of  the 
Geranium  was  much  the  most  immediate  and 
abundant. 

The  sulphate  of  iron  struck  a  dark  purple  col- 
our with  the  infusion  of  Geranium.     The  com- 


a&  GERANIUM  MACULATUM. 

pound  remained  principally  suspended  at  the  end 
of  twenty  four  hours,  and  when  used  in  writing 
had  the  appearance  of  common  ink,  but  in  a  few 
days  changed  to  a  dull  brown  colour.  A  por- 
tion of  the  fresh  infusion  was  distilled,  but  the  li- 
quid which  came  over  was  not  altered  in  colour 
by  the  sulphate  of  iron. 

The  above  experiments  indicate  the  presence 
of  tannin  and  gallic  acid,  the  former  in  large  quan- 
tities, in  the  root  of  the  Geranium^  The  propor- 
tion of  tannin  seems  considerably  to  exceed  that 
in  the  kino  of  the  shops.  The  gallic  acid  is  in- 
dicated by  the  dark  precipitate  remaining  in  so- 
lution. This  is  Berthollet's  criterion.  It  differs 
however  from  the  acid  of  oak  galls  in  not  reddening 
vegetable  blues,  and  not  passing  over  in  distillation. 

Alcohol  and  proof  spirit  readily  dissolve   the 
active  constituents  of  the  Geranium.     The   tinc- 
ture has  a  great  sensible  astringency,  and  i&  a 
convenient  mode  of  keeping  tlie  article  for  use. 

The  Geranium  has  been  repeatedly  employed 
in  medicine  by  various  practitioners  in  this  coun- 
try. I  have  found  it  useful  in  a  number  of  cases, 
where  astringents  were  capable  of  rendering  ser- 
vice. It  is  particularly  suited  to  the  treatment  of 
such  discharges  as  continue  from  debility  after 
the  removal  of  their  exciting  causes.     The  tine- 


COMMON  CRxlNESBILL,  89 

ture  forms  an  excellent  local  application  in  sore 
throats  and  ulcerations  of  the  mouth. 

Its  internal  use  has  been  recommended  in  dvs- 
entery  and  cholera  infantum,  but  astringents  are 
not  always  admissible  in  these  complaints,  at  least 
in  their  early  stages,  during  the  existence  of  much 
actiye  inflammation,  or  during  the  presence  of  any 
substance  requiring  to  be  removed. 

The  Geranium  may  be  used  in  powder  in  ex- 
tract, or  in  tincture.  Its  doses  are  similar  to 
those  of  kino  and  catechu,  a  drachm  or  two  of 
the  tincture,  twenty  or  thirty  grains  of  the  pow- 
der, and  a  quantity  somewhat  less  of  the  extract. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Geranium  maculatum,  Sp.pl.  Wilidejvow,  iii.  705. — GEoiiro- 
vius,  Virg.  101. — Waiter,  Carol.  175. — Michaux,  ii.  35. — . 
PuRSH,  ii.  448. — G.  caiile  erecto,  herbaceo,  foliis  oppositis,  quin- 
quepartitis,  incisis  &c.  Caa'^aiviiles,  diss.  t.  86,/.  2. — G.  batra- 
chioides,  Americanum,  maculatum,  floribus  obsolete  cceruleis, 
T)lLL.Elth.  158.  t  131,/.  159. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHffiPF,  107. — Bart.  Coll.  7. — Cutler,  Mem,  Mier.  Jlcailt 
i.  469 Thacher,  Disp.  224. 

PLATE  VIIL 

Fig.  1.  Geranium  maciilatnm. 
Fig.  2.  The  fruit. 
Fig.  3.  The  root, 

IS 


TEIOSTEUM  PERFOLIATUM. 


Fever  root 


PLATE  IX. 

X  HIS  is  rather  a  solitary  plant,  and  tliougli 
met  with  in  most  parts  of  the  United  States,  it 
rarely,  I  believe,  occurs  in  large  quantities.  About 
Boston  it  is  found  in  several  places  at  the  borders 
of  woods  in  rich,  shady  situations.  Its  common 
names  are  Fever  root  and  Wild  ipecac.^  Pursh 
observes,  that  it  is  rare,  and  generally  occurs  in 
limestone  soils.  With  us  it  flowers  in  June  and 
ripens  its  fruit  in  September. 

The  genus  Triosteum  is  found  in  the  class 

*  The  quaint  appellation  of  Dr.  Tinker's  weed,  which  has  heen 
bestowed  on  this  plant,  is  thus  gravely  commented  on  by  Poiret. 
*'  Ses  racines  et  celles  de  Fespece  precedente  passent  pour  emeti- 
ques  ;  le  docteur  Tinkar  est  le  premier  qui  les  a  mises  en  usage,  et 
qui  a  fait  donner  a  cette  plante  par  plusieurs  habitans  de  I'Amerique 
septentrionale  le  nom  d'  herbe  saiivage  du  docteur  Tinkar.''[ 


PL  IX. 


iVfif 


y 


l?S 


rii. 


FEVER  ROOT.  91 

Pentandria  and  order  Monogynia.      Its  natural 
affinities  place  it  among  the  Aggregatce  of  Lin- 
naeus and  the  Capi^ifolia  of  Jussieu.     It  is  charac- 
terized by  a  monopetalous,  five-lohed^  unequal  co- 
rolla ;    a  calyoc  as  long  as  the  corolla  ;    and  a  ber- 
ry with  three  cells  and  three  seeds.     The   species 
perfoliatum    differs   from  the  rest  in  having  its 
leaves  connate,  and  itsfiotvers  sessile  and  whorled. 
The  root  of  this  plant  is  perennial   and  subdi- 
vided into   numerous  horizontal  branches.     The 
stem  is  erect,  hairy,  fistulous,  round,  from  one  to 
four   feet   high.     The    leaves    are    opposite,   the 
pairs  crossing  each  other,  connate,  ovate,  acumi- 
nate, entire,   rather  flat,  abruptly   contracted   at 
base  into    a  sort  of  neck,   resembling  a  winged 
petiole.     This  portion  varies  in  width,  as  Michaux 
has  expressed  it,  "foliis  latins,  angustiusve  con 
natis,"     In  general  it  is  narrow  when  the  plant  is 
in  flower,  as  represented  in  the  figure;  and  wider 
when  it  is  in  fruit.    The  flowers  are  axillary,  sessile, 
five  or  six  in  a  whorl,  the   upper  ones  generally 
in  a  single  pair.     Each  axil  is  furnished  with  two 
or  three  linear  bractes.     The  calyx    consists   of 
five   segments  which  are  spreading,  oblong-linear 
coloured,   unequal,   persistent.      Corolla  tubular, 
curving,  of  a  dull  brownish  purple,  covered  with 
minute  hairs,  its  base  gibbous,  its  border  open  and 


9S  TRIOSTEUM  PERFOLIATUM. 

divided  into  five  rounded,  unequal  lobes.  Stamens 
inserted  in  tlie  tube  of  the  corolla,  hairy,  with 
oblong  anthers.  Germ  inferior,  roundisli ;  style 
longer  than  the  corolla;  stigma  peltate.  The 
fruit  is  an  oval  berry  of  a  deep  orange  yellow,* 
hairy,  somewhat  three  sided,  crowned  with  the 
calyx,  containing  three  cells  and  three  hard,  bony, 
furrowed  seeds,  from  which  the  name  of  the  genus 
is  taken. 

This  plant  was  made  the  subject  of  an  inter- 
esting communication  to  the  Linn^ean  society  of 
Kew  England,  by  Dr.  John  Randall.  The  exper- 
iments made  by  him  on  its  medical  uses  and  phar- 
maceutical preparations  were  numerous,  and 
serve  to  throw  much  light  on  its  properties.  In 
trying  the  solvent  powers  of  water  and  alcohol,  he 
found  that  water  afforded  a  much  greater  quanti- 
ty of  extract  than  alcohol,  and  that  the  spirituous 
extract  was  perfectly  soluble  in  water,  whence  he 
infers  that  no  resin  in  a  pure  state  exists  in  the 
plant.  He  discovered  no  volatile  oil  by  distilla- 
tion, nor  any  other  principle  of  activity  in  water 
distilled  from  the  plant.     He  concludes  also,  that 

*  Pursh  observes  that  the  flowers  and  berries  are  purple.  In  all 
the  specimens  I  have  examined,  which  have  not  been  few  in  number* 
the  fruit  was  of  a  bright  orange  colour.  If  Pursh  has  seen  a  plant 
%vith  purple  berries,  it  is  probably  a  diiferent  species  from  the  true 
plant  of  Linnseus  and  Diilenius,  which  had  ^^fructus  lutescentes,^^ 


FEVER  ROOT.  98 

no  free  acid  exists  in  this  vegetable.  Of  the  dif- 
ferent parts  submitted  to  examination,  the  leaves 
yielded  the  greatest  quantity  of  soluble  matter, 
but  the  root  afforded  that  of  the  greatest  activity. 
By  decoction  and  evaporation  with  water  an  ounce 
of  the  dried  stalks  afforded  one  drachm  of  ex- 
tract ;  an  ounce  of  the  dry  roots,  two  drachms 
and  two  scruples,  and  the  same  quantity  of  leaves 
half  an  ounce.  From  a  similar  treatment  of  equal 
portions  with  alcohol,  rather  more  than  half  the 
above  quantities  of  extract  were  obtained. 

The  sensible  qualities  of  the  root  were  found 
essentially  different  from  those  of  the  herb.  Both 
of  them  possess  a  large  share  of  bitterness,  but  the 
root  has  also  a  nauseous  taste  and  smell,  some- 
what approaching  to  those  of  ipecacuanha.  The 
medical  properties  of  the  Triosteum  are  those  of 
an  emetic  and  cathartic.  In  the  above  disserta- 
tion, about  thirty  cases  are  detailed,  in  which  dif- 
ferent preparations  and  quantities  of  the  article 
were  given  to  various  persons  with  a  view  to  their 
medicinal  effects.  The  general  inference  to  be 
made  from  them  is,  that  the  bark  of  the  root  acts 
with  tolerable  certainty  as  an  evacuant  upon  the 
alimentary  canal,  both  hy  emesis  and  catharsis. 
When  given  alone,  either  in  powder  or  decoction, 
the  instances  of  its  failure  were  not  many,  and 


94>  TRIOSTEUM  PERFOLIATUM, 

when  combined  with  calomel,  its  operation  was  at- 
tended with  a  certainty,  hardly  inferior  to  that  of 
jalap.  The  aqueous  and  spirituous  extract  of  the 
root  were  likewise  efficacious,  and  nearly  in  an 
equal  degree.  Preparations  made  from  different 
parts  of  the  herb  possessed  much  less  activity,  the 
decoction  of  the  leaves  operating  only  as  a  diapho- 
retic, and  that  of  the  stalk  producing  no  effect. 

The  late  Professor  Barton  of  Philadelphia,  in 
his  Collections  toward  a  Materia  Medica  of  the  U- 
iiited  States,  speaks  of  this  plant  as  a  mild  and 
good  cathartic,  sometimes  operating  as  a  diuretic 
and  in  large  doses  as  an  emetic. 

My  own  experience  with  this  plant  has  not 
been  extensive,  yet  sufficient  to  satisfy  me  of  its 
medicinal  power.  Where  I  have  administered  it, 
it  has  generally  proved  cathartic,  a  larger  dose 
however  being  requisite  for  this  purpose,  than  of 
jalap  or  aloes.  It  has  sometimes  failed  to  pro- 
duce any  effiact,  and  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that 
its  efficacy  is  much  impaired  by  age.  Those  who 
may  incline  to  employ  it,  will  do  well  to  renew 
their  stock  annually,  and  to  keep  the  powder  in 
close  stopped  phials. 

A  dose  of  the  bark  of  the  root  in  powder  is 
twenty  or  twenty  five  grains,  and  of  the  extractj 
a  somewhat  smaller  quantity. 


FEYER  ROOT.  95 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Triosteum  perfoliatiira,  Lin.  sp.  pi.  Aiton,  Hort.  Ketv,  i.  234. 
— PuRSH.  i.  162. — Triosteum  majiis,  Michaux,  Fl.  i.  107. — T. 
floribus  verticLllatis,  sessilibus,  Gronov.  31. — Triosteosper- 
mum  latiore  folio,  flore  rutilo,  Dij^lenius,  Elth.  t.  293.  /.  378. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHOEPF,  23. — ^Bart.  Coll.  29. 

PLATE  IX. 

Fig.  1.  Triosteum  perfoliatum. 

Fig.  2.  .5  Jloxver  separated. 

Fig.  3.  The  corolla  opened,  shewing  the  stamens  and  style. 

Fig.  4.  The  calyx. 

Fig.  5.  The  fruit,  crowned  with  the  calyx. 

Fig.  6.  The  same  dissected  to  shew  the  three  seeds. 

Fig,  7.  d  seed. 


EHUS  VERmX. 


Poison  Sumach  or  Dogwood, 


FL^TE  X. 

Xhe  fine,  smooth  foliage  of  the  Rhus  vernis 
render  it  one  of  the  most  elegant  of  our  native 
shrubs,  while  its  well  known  poisonous  qualities 
make  it  an  object  of  aversion,  and  deter  most  per- 
sons from  a  near  inspection  of  its  structure  and 
characteristics.  From  Canada  to  Carolina  it  is  a 
common  tenant  of  swamps  and  meadows,  usually 
attaining  the  height  of  ten  or  fifteen  feet,  but 
sometimes  rising  into  a  tree  of  twice  that  altitude. 
The  names  of  Poison  tree,  Poison  wood,  Poison 
ash,  ^c.  are  applied  to  it  in  different  parts  of  the 
United  States.  In  Massachusetts  it  is  universal- 
ly known  by  the  name  of  Dogwood,  This  appel- 
lation, being  applied  throughout  the  country  to 
Cormis  florida,  serves  to  shew  the  fallacy  of  de- 


i^ 


PI.  X. 


POISON  SUMACH.  ^7 

pending  on  vulgar  or  provincial  names  for  the 
distinction  of  plants.     A  mistake  of  very  injuri- 
ous consequence  might  easily  arise  from  the  confu- 
sion of  the  English  names  of  two  trees  so  dissimi- 
lar in  their  qualities. 

The  class  Pentandria  and  order  Trigynia ;  the 
Linnsean  order  Biimosm  and  the  Jussieuean  Tere- 
bintacece  include  the  genus  to  which  this  shrub 
belongs.  The  generic  character  consists  in  an 
inferior,  jive-parted  calyx,  a  corolla  of  five  petals^ 
and  a  berry  tvitli  one  seed.  The  Ehus  vernix  has 
its  leaves  annual,  pinnate,  glabrous  ;  its  leafets  ob- 
long, entire,  acuminate ;  its  panicle  lacv,  and  its 
fiowers  diodcious. 

The  trunk  of  the  poison  sumach  is  from  one 
to  five  inches  in  diameter,  branching  at  top,  and 
covered  with  a  pale  greyish  bark.  The  wood  is 
light  and  brittle,  and  contains  much  pith.  The 
ends  of  the  young  shoots  and  the  petioles  are  usu- 
ally of  a  fine  red  colour,  which  contributes  much 
to  the  beauty  of  the  shrub.  The  leaves  are  pin- 
nate, the  leafets  oblong  or  oval,  entire,  or  some- 
times slightly  sinuate,  acuminate,  smooth,  paler 
underneath,  nearly  sessile,  except  the  terminal 
one.  The  flow  ers,  which  appear  in  June,  are  very 
small,  green,  in  loose  axillary  panicles.  Where 
they  appear  not  axillary,  it  is  because  the  leat  un- 
13 


98  RHUS  VERNIX. 

der  tliem  lias  been  detached.  Tlie  barren  and 
fertile  flowers  grow  on  different  trees.  The 
panicles  of  barren  flowers  are  the  largest  and 
most  branched.  They  are  furnished  with  short, 
oblong  bractes,  and  downy  pedicels.  The  ca- 
lyx has  five  ovate  segments,  and  the  corolla  five 
oblong,  sigmoid  petals.  The  stamens  are  longer 
than  the  petals,  and  project  through  their  in- 
terstices. The  rudiment  of  a  three-cleft  style 
is  found  in  the  centre. — In  the  fertile  flowers, 
the  panicles  of  which  are  much  smaller,  the 
calyx  and  petals  resemble  the  last,  while  the 
centre  is  occupied  by  an  oval  germ,  ending  in 
three  circular  stigmas.  The  fruit  is  a  bunch 
of  dry  berries  or  rather  drupes  of  a  greenish 
white,  sometimes  marked  with  slight  purple  veins, 
and  becoming  wrinkled  when  old.  They  are 
roundish,  a  little  broadest  at  the  upper  end,  and 
compressed ',  containing  one  white,  hard,  furrow- 
ed seed. 

A  tree,  supposed  to  be  the  same  with  the 
Rhus  vernix,  grows  in  Japan,  and  furnishes  the 
celebrated  black  varnish  of  that  country. 

A  controversy  respecting  the  identity  of  the 
Japanese  and  American  species,  was  carried  on  in 
the  forty  ninth  and  fiftieth  volumes  of  the  London 
Philosophical  transactions,  by  Mr.  Philip  Miller 


POISON  SUMACH.  99 

and  Mr.  John  Ellis.  The  mass  of  evidence  seems 
to  justify  the  belief,  that  notwithstanding  the  re- 
moteness of  their  situation,  they  are  one  and  the 
same  species.  The  description  of  the  oriental 
tree,  given  in  Ksempfer's  Amcenitates  exotics, 
agrees  very  closely  with  that  of  the  American 
species.  [JVo^e  G.]  Like  our  native  Rhus,  the 
Japanese  tree  possesses  a  poisonous  influence, 
and  frequently  causes  a  severe  cutaneous  affection 
in  those  who  approach  or  gather  it.  It  only  re- 
mains to  shew,  that  a  varnish  may  be  obtained 
from  the  American  Ehus  vernix,  to  furnish  strong 
presumptive  evidence  of  the  identity  of  the  two. 

If  an  incision  be  made  in  the  bark  of  our 
Rhus  vernix  in  the  spring  or  autumn,  a  quantity 
of  thick  viscid  fluid  immediately  exudes,  and 
sometimes  with  such  rapidity  as  to  drop  off  be- 
fore it  can  be  collected.  This  juice  has  an 
Dpaque,  whitish  appearance,  and  a  strong,  pene- 
trating, disagreeable  smell.  On  exposure  to  the 
atmosphere,  its  colour  soon  changes  to  a  deep 
black.  It  is  extremely  slow  in  drying,  and  per- 
manently retains  its  black  colour. 

In  the  month  of  October,  1814,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  Dr.  Pierson,  whose  case  is  afterwards 
described ;  I  collected  several  ounces  of  this  juice 
from  a  thicket  of  trees  in  Brighton.     Being  col- 


100  RHUS  VERNIX. 

lected  in  a  pliial,  it  retained  its  whitish  colour, 
except  at  the  surface,  where  it  turned  black  from 
its  contact  with  the  air  in  the  upper  part,  lliis 
juice  was  kept  for  more  than  two  years  without 
any  change  in  its  appearance.  In  cold  weather 
it  was  extremely  viscid,  and  flowed  with  difficulty. 
Different  portions  of  this  juice  were  submitted 
to  chemical  examination.  It  was  perfectly  insolu- 
ble in  water,  although  upon  boiling  with  it,  it 
formed  a  thick  emulsion.  Alcohol  dissolved  it 
sparingly,  and  the  solution  was  rendered  turbid 
by  water.  jEther  combined  with  it  more  large- 
ly, forming  a  thick,  opaque  compound.  Strong 
sulphuric  acid  combined  with  it,  producing  a 
black  solid  mass.  Alkalies  also  combined  with 
it,  and  a  strong  solution  of  pearl  ash  dissolved  a 
portion  of  it,  which  was  afterwards  precipitated 
hy  sulphuric  acid.  It  had  an  affinity  for  metallic 
oxyds,  and  powdered  litharge,  upon  being  boiled 
with  it.  rendered  it  nearly  solid.  In  distillation 
at  the  heat  of  boiling  water,  nothing  came  over 
except  a  slight  fdm  upon  the  surface  of  the  wa- 
ter. When  the  heat  was  raised  to  the  boiling 
point  of  the  juice,  a  quantity  of  thin,  blackish,  vol- 
atile oil  came  over,  which  dried  up  on  being  ex- 
posed to  the  air,  leaving  a  slight  coating  on  the 
surface  of  the  vessel  which  contained  it.     The 


POISON  SUMACH.  lOl 

portion  remaining  in  the  retort  was  much  inspis- 
sated, and  upon  cooling  became  nearly  solid. 

Being  desirous  to  try  the  effect  of  this  juice, 
employed  as  a  varnish,  I  applied  a  coating  of  it 
with  a  brush  to  different  surfaces  of  wood,  glass, 
tinned  iron,  paper,  and  cloth.  These  were  ex- 
posed to  the  air  and  light  during  the  whole  of 
the  months  of  July  and  August,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  period  they  had  not  become  dry. 
Each  of  the  coatings  was  half  fluid  and  adhesive, 
and  had  collected  much  dust.  Upon  the  cloth 
and  paper  the  juice  had  spread  extensively,  giv- 
ing them  an  oily  appearance. 

Concluding  from  this  experiment  that  the 
juice  could  not  be  usefully  employed  in  its  crude 
state,  I  endeavoured  to  render  it  more  drying  by 
the  addition  of  litharge.  The  compound,  which 
resulted  from  boiling  with  this  oxyd,  became  dry 
in  a  short  time,  but  was  not  distinguished  for  any 
remarkable  degree  of  lustre. 

The  third  and  last  experiment  proved  more 
satisfactory.  A  quantity  of  the  juice  was  boiled 
alone,  until  nearly  all  the  volatile  oil  had  escaped, 
and  the  remainder  was  reduced  almost  to  the 
state  of  a  resin.  In  this  state  it  was  applied  while 
warm  to  several  substances,  which  after  cooling 
exhibited  the  most  brilliant,  glossy,  jet  black  sur- 


103  RHUS  VERNIX. 

face.  The  coating  appeared  very  durable  and 
firm,  and  was  not  affected  by  moisture.  It  was 
elastic  and  perfectly  opaque,  and  seemed  calcu- 
lated to  answer  the  purposes  of  both  paint  and 
varnish. 

The  chemical  constitution  of  the  juice  of  the 
Rhus  vernix  seems,  from  the  foregoing  experi- 
ments, to  be  most  analogous  to  that  of  the  bal- 
sams, consisting  chiefly  of  a  resin  and  an  essen- 
tial oil.  The  oil  dissipates  slowly  at  low  temper- 
atures, approaching  in  this  and  some  other  res- 
pects to  the  character  of  a  fixed  oil.  The  resin, 
"when  procured  in  contact  with  the  atmospheric 
air,  is  black,  opaque,  and  solid,  rendered  very  ad- 
hesive, and  at  length  fluid  by  heat. 

A  very  distressing,  cutaneous  disease,  it  is 
"well  known,  ensues  in  many  persons  from  the  con- 
I  tact,  and  even  from  the  effluvium  of  this  shrub, 
I  The  poisonous  influence  which  produces  this  af- 
fection is  common  to  several  other  trees  and 
plants,  such  as  the  Poison  vine  or  Poison  ivy, 
(Rhus  radicans,)  the  Cashew  nut,  (dnacardium 
occidentale,)  and  the  Manchineel,  (Wppomane 
inancinella»)  Even  the  garden  Rue,  and  com- 
mon Oleander,  are  said  to  ajffect  some  persons  in 
a  similar  manner. — The  Rhus  vernix  is  the  most 
formidable  of  this  tribe  which  is  found  among  us. 


POISON  SUMACH.  lOS 

and  occasionally  produces  the  most  severe  effects* 
It  is  however  extremely  various  in  its  action,  up- 
on persons  of  different  idosyncrasies.  Some  can- 
not come  within  the  atmosphere  of  the  shrub, 
without  suffering  the  most  violent  consequences. 
Others  are  but  slightly  affected  by  handling  it, 
and  some  can  even  rub,  chew,  and  swallow  the 
leaves  without  the  smallest  inconvenience. 

The  most  formidable  cases  in  persons  subject 
to  this  poison,  usually  commence  within  twenty 
four  hours  after  the  exposure.  The  interval  is 
sometimes  longer,  but  more  frequently  shorter. 
The  symptoms  are  generally  ushered  in  by  a 
sense  of  itching  and  a  tumefaction  of  the  hands 
and  face.  The  swelling  gradually  extends  over 
various  parts  of  the  body,  assuming  an  erysipela- 
tous appearance.  The  inflamed  parts  become 
more  elevated,  acquiring  a  livid  redness,  attended 
with  a  painful  burning  sensation.  Small  vesicles 
now  appear  upon  the  surface,  which  extend  and 
run  into  each  other.  They  contain  a  transparent 
fluid,  which  by  degrees  becomes  yellow,  and  at 
length  assumes  a  purulent  appearance.  A  dis- 
charge takes  place  from  these  vesicles  or  pustules, 
giving  rise  to  a  yellowish  incrustation,  which  af- 
terwards becomes  brown.  In  the  mean  time  an 
insupportable  sensation  of  itching  and  burning  is 


\ 

\ 


104  RHUS  VERNIX. 

felt.  The  inflamed  parts  become  excessively 
swollen,  so  that  not  unfrequently  the  eyes  are 
closed,  and  the  countenance  assumes  a  shapeless 
and  cadaverous  appearance,  which  has  been  com- 
pared to  that  in  malignant  small  pox.  The  dis- 
ease is  usually  at  its  height  from  the  fourth  to  the 
sixth  day,  after  which  the  skin  and  incrustations 
begin  to  separate  from  the  diseased  parts,  and 
the  symptoms  gradually  subside.  It  is  not  com- 
mon for  any  scars  or  permanent  traces  of  the  dis- 
ease to  remain.  Notwithstanding  the  violent 
character  which  it  sometimes  assumes,  I  never 
knew  an  authenticated  case  of  its  terminating  fa- 
tally. It  is  however  capable  of  occasioning  the 
most  distressing  symptoms.  Kalm,  in  his  travels 
in  North  America,  mentions  a  person  who,  by  the 
simple  exhalation  of  the  Rhus  vernix,  was  swol- 
len to  such  a  degree,  that  "  he  was  stiif  as  a  log  of 
wood,  and  could  only  be  turned  about  in  sheets." 
Dr.  Thacher  mentions  a  case,  in  which  the  head 
and  body  were  swollen  to  a  prodigious  degree,  so 
as  to  occasion  the  loss  of  sight  for  some  time  j  and 
the  patient  recovered  at  the  end  of  several  weeks 
with  the  loss  of  his  hair  and  nails. 

Of  the  cases  which  have  fallen  under  my  no- 
tice, the  following  affords  a  fair  instance  of  the 
operation  of  this  poison,  as  it  ordinarily  effects 


POISON  SUMACH.  405 

those  who  are  constitutionally  liable  to  it.  On  the 
27th  of  October,  1814,  Dr.  A.  L.  Pierson,  then  a 
student  of  medicine,  accompanied  me  to  Brighton 
for  the  purpose  of  collecting  the  juice  of  the  Rhus 
vernix,  growing  at  that  place.  He  had  always 
supposed  himself  constitutionally  exempt  from, 
liability  to  the  poison.  The  day  proved  warm, 
and  the  eflluvium  from  the  incisions  we  had  made 
in  the  trees  was  very  powerful.  We  were  engag- 
ed in  the  collection  for  upwards  of  an  hour,  dur- 
ing which  he  was  less  exposed  than  myself,  be- 
ing absent  a  part  of  the  time.  His  own  account 
of  the  symptoms  which  followed  this  exposure  is 
as  follows : 

"  I  felt  no  unpleasant  effects  for  six  or  seven 
hours  after  returning  to  Boston,  About  8  o'clock 
P,  M.  I  perceived  the  backs  of  my  hands  were 
swollen  and  puffy,  but  without  pain  or  itching ; 
my  forehead  and  upper  lip  were  soon  in  the  same 
state.  On  the  morning  of  the  S8th  the  tumefac- 
tion had  increased,  and  I  discovered  various  other 
parts  of  my  body  to  be  infected.  The  backs  of  my 
hands  and  wrists,  which  were  the  most  advanced, 
began  to  show  small  w  atery  vesicles,  No  appli- 
cations were  made  till  the  nqon  of  this  day.  I 
then  applied  cloths   dipped  in  lead  water  to  one 

hand  and  wrist,  and  in  a  spirituous  solution  of  the 
14j 


108  RHUS  VERNIX. 

the  coiTOsiye  muriate  of  mercury  to  the  other. 
From   this  and  subsequent  trials,  I  am  induced 
to  prefer  the  lead.     The  parts   began  to  itch — 
the  tumefaction  increased — vesication  began  to 
take  place  on  the  swollen  surface — small  pustules 
formed  and  ran  into  each  other,  and  at  last  some 
were  formed  as  large  as  nutmegs.     On  the  S9th, 
my  eyes  were  nearly  closed,  in   consequence  of 
the  swelling  of  my  forehead,  eyebrows  and  cheeks. 
The  contents  of  the  vesicles  were  perfectly  lim- 
pid— inoculation  from  them  to  other  parts  had 
no   effect — ■neither  in  this    nor  any  subsequent 
stage.     On  the  evening  of  the   30th,  the  inflam- 
mation appeared  at  its  height.     The  burning  sen- 
sation and  itching  were  intolerable.   I  could  scarce- 
ly discern  any  object.     On  the  31st,  the  pustules 
hegan  to  appear  a  little  milky — and  before  night 
the  inflammation  was  evidently  on  the  decline. 
I  this  day  applied  an  ointment,  composed  of  Ung. 
Stramonii,  1  oz.— Subm.  Hyd.  c.  Ammonia  (white 
precipitate)  1  dr.  mixed — with  a  very  pleasant 
effect.     It  was  now  soothing,  although  before  it 
had  seemed  to  irritate,  and  produced  pain  when 
applied.     !Xovember  1st,  a  very  free  desquama- 
tion began,  first  on  my  forehead,  hands  and  wrists. 
And  in  just  a  fortnight  I  was  enabled  to  leave  my 
chamber,  blessed  with  a  new  cuticle  from  the  root 


POISON  SUMACH.  107 

of  tbe  hair  on  my  forehead  to  my  breast,  from  the 
middle  of  my  forearm  to  the  tips  of  my  fingers, 
and  on  the  whole  inside  of  my  thighs.  The  con- 
stitutional effects  of  this  thorough  vesication  were 
but  slight.  During  the  first  fire  days,  my  pulses 
were  increased  from  ten  to  twenty  strokes  in  the 
minute.  The  time  of  duration  of  the  inflamma- 
tory symptoms  in  this  case  accords  pretty  well 
with  the  account  of  Prof.  Barton,  who  states,  I 
think,  the  height  of  it  to  be  on  the  fifth  day.  It 
is  WLOi^th  observing^  that  the  operation  of  the  poi- 
son seemed  to  have  a  considerable  effect  in  reliev- 
ing me  from  dispeptic  symptoms,  with  which  I 
had  been  previously  troubled,  and  also  benefitted 
a  chronic  inflammation  of  my  eyes.  I  am  stiM 
subject  to  an  eruption  of  watery  pustules  between 
my  fingers,  which  dry  up,  and  the  cuticle  peels 
off."    Letter  date  dJuly,  1815. 

Many  constitutions  are  but  slightly,  or  not  at 
all,  affected  by  the  poison  of  the  Rhus  vernLx. 
This  I  find  to  be  my  own  case.  After  the  same 
exposure,  which  occasioned  the  case  just  detailed, 
I  experienced  no  ill  consequence,  except  a  slight 
vesicular  eruption  on  the  backs  of  the  hands  and 
about  the  eyes,  which  disappeared  in  a  short  time, 
without  farther  inconvenience.  The  same  slight 
affection  I  have  felt  upon  several  subsequent  ex- 


108  RHUS  VERNIX. 

posures,  particularly  when  making,  from  a  recent 
specimen,  the  drawing  which  accompanies  tlus 
account. 

I  apprehend  that  a  majority  of  persons  are  not 
liable  to  the  injurious  effects  of  the  poisonous  su- 
macs. Among  persons  residing  in  the  country, 
exposures  must  occur  yery  frequently  from  the 
abundance  of  these  shrubs,  especially  of  the  Rhus 
radicans,  by  roadsides  and  elsewhere.  Very  few 
however,  in  proportion  to  the  number  exposed, 
have  personal  experience  of  their  deleterious  ef- 
fects. In  those  on  the  contrary,  in  whom  a  con- 
stitutional liability  to  the  poison  exists,  the  disease 
frequently  returns  several  times  during  life,  not- 
withstanding the  utmost  precaution  in  avoiding 
its  causes.  A  gentleman  residing  in  the  coun- 
try informed  me,  that  he  had  been  seven  times 
poisoned  to  the  most  violent  degree.  In  such 
constitutions  a  slight  exposure  is  sufficient  to  ex- 
cite the  disease.  I  have  known  individuals  bad- 
ly poisoned  in  winter  from  the  wood  of  the  Rhus 
vernix,  accidentally  burnt  on  the  fire.  Others 
have  made  the  same  observation. 

Some  farther  remarks  on  the  poison  of  these 
shrubs,  and  on  the  treatment  of  the  disease  oc- 
casioned by  them,  will  be  made  in  a  future  part 
of  this  work,  under  the  head  of  Mhus  radicans. 


POISON  SUMACH.  109 

Many  interesting  observations  on  the  proper- 
ties of  these  species  of  Sumach,  will  be  found  in 
an  inaugural  dissertation,  by  Dr.  Thomas  Hors- 
field  of  Bethlehem,  Pa.  a  work  of  much  industry 
and  merit. 

In  the  New  York  Medical  Repository  is  an 
account  of  a  swarm  of  bees,  which,  bavins:  alisjlit- 
ed  on  the  branches  of  the  Rhus  vernix,  were  the 
next  day  found  dead,  with  their  bodies  black  and 
swollen.  This  is  a  remarkable  circumstance. 
There  is  certainly  no  instinctive  aversion  in  these 
animals  for  the  tree.  In  the  flowering  season  the 
blossoms,  which  are  very  fragrant,  are  always 
thronged  with  a  multitude  of  winged  insects  in 
quest  of  their  honey. 

The  introduction  of  the  juice  into  the  arts 
will  not  perhaps  take  place  among  us,  during  the 
present  high  price  of  labour,  and  the  general  pre- 
judice which  exists  against  the  shrub.  In  some  fu- 
ture period,  it  is  probable  that  a  substance,  which  is 
found  so  valuable  in  the  eastern  countries,  will 
not  be  neglected  among  us.  It  might  safely  be 
procured  by  persons  not  subject  to  the  poison, 
and,  with  proper  precautions,  would  injure  no  one 
during  its  preparation  and  use.  A  pound  of  the 
juice  in  a  day  might  be  collected  by  an  individ- 
ual.    When  thoroughly  dry,  it  ceases  to  emit  an 


110  :rhus  vernix. 

effluvium,  and  nothing  farther  is  to  be  apprehend- 
ed from  its  effects. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rhus  vernix  Linn^us,  Sp,  pi. — Aiton,  Hort.  Kew.  i.  366. — 
MicHAUX,  i.  183. — PuRSH,  i.  205. — Pennated  toxicodendron 
Eu-is,  Phil,  trans,  abr.  xi.  passim.  American  toxicodendron 
Miller,  ibid. — ^Toxicodendron  carolinianura  foliis  pinnatis, 
&c.  Mazeas,  ibid.  x.  595. — Toxicodendron  foliis  alatis,  fructu 
rhomboideo,  Dill.  Elth.  390,  t.  £92,/.  377. — Arbor  Americana 
alatis  foliis,  succo  lacteo,  venenato,  Plukenet,  j7%f .  1. 145./.  1. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Dudley,  Phil,  trans,  abr.  vi.  507. — Sherard,  ditto.  508.— 
Kalm,  travels^  i.  77. — Marshall,  arbust.  130. — Cutler,  Amer, 
Acad.  427. — Barton,  Coll.  24. — Thacher,  Disp.  321. — Hor»- 
riELD,  Inaugural  JJissertation, 


PLATE  X. 

Fig.  1.  Rhus  vernix,  with  staminijerous  flowers. 
Fig.  2.  A  staminiferous  or  barren  flower  magnifledi. 
Fig.  3.  Stamens  and  rudiment  of  a  pistil. 
Fig.  4.  .S  fertile  flower  magnifled. 
Fig.  5.  Germ  and  stigmas. 
Fig.  6.  Thefmit. 


/v.  ^ri. 


f>/t///  f/t 


itirr,-/^/r//r-    '    • 


AMERICAN 


MEDICAL  BOTANY. 


COOTUM  MACTJLATUM. 

Hemlock. 

FLJITE  XL 

A  PLANT  bearing  the  name  of  Conium^  nrnziov. 
lias  been  noted  as  a  poison  from  remote  antiquity.  In 
consequence  of  tlie  power  which  it  possessed  when 
given  in  sufficient  quantities,  of  destroying  life  in 
a  certain  and  almost  immediate  manner,  it  was 
used  at  Athens  as  a  mode  of  execution  for  those 
condemned  to  death  by  the  tribunal  of  Areopagus. 
Socrates  andPhocion  were  among  the  distinguished 
ancients,  who  suifered  death  by  the  agency  of  this 
mortal  poison.      The  accounts  which  have  been 
left  respecting  it  would  lead  us  to  believe  that  its 
operation  was  speedy,  and  unattended  with  any 
violent  or  long  protracted  suffering.     It  was  not 
only  employed  as  an  instrument  of  public  execu- 


114  CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

tions,  but  was  resorted  to  by  those  who  sought  to 
encounter  suicide  in  its  least  formidable  shape. 
Among  other  instances,  that  of  the  Cean  old  men 
is  related  by  iElian,  who  when  they  had  become 
useless  to  the  state,  and  tu-ed  of  the  infirmities  of 
life ;  invited  each  other  to  a  banquet,  and  having 
crowned  themselves  as  in  celebration  of  a  joyous 
festival ;  drank  the  Conium,  and  terminated  their 
existence  together. 

The  description  which  has  been  left  by  Di- 
oscorides  of  the  Conium,  only  shews  it  to  have 
been  an  umbellate  plant,  his  character  of  which 
might   apply  to  many    species.      The    mention 
made  of  it  by  Latin  writers  under  the   name    of 
Cicuta  are  not  more  satisfactory.     Linnseus,  in- 
fluenced by  the  noxious  character  of  the  modern 
officinal  Hemlock,  has  appropriated  to  that  plant 
the  name  of  the  Grecian  species,  and  most  subse- 
quent botanists  have  followed  liis  example.     Hal- 
le r,  however,  is  of  opinion  that  the  ancient  poison 
was  not  procured  from  this  plant,  but  from  the 
Cicuta  virosa  L.  a  poisonous  aquatic,  much  more 
powerful  and   violent   in   its  operation  than  the 
common  Hemlock.      Lamarck  adopts  the  opin- 
ion of  Linnaeus,  and  believes  that  the  Conium  ma- 
culatum  was  really  the  Grrecian  poison,  and  that 
it3  properties  were  rendered  more  active  by  the 


HEMLOCK.  115 

lieat  of  the  climate  in  which  it  grew.  Guersent 
supposes  that  the  poisonous  draught  used  bj  the 
Greeks  was  not  the  product  of  a  single  species, 
but  a  compound  prepared  from  several  plants. 

Were   it  not   for   the   tranquillity    and    ease 
which  attended  death  from  the  ancient  hemlock, 
and  which  Plato  has  described  with  interesting' 
mmuteness,  there  would  not  have  been  much  diffi- 
culty in  supposing  the  Grecian  plant  to  be  the  same 
with  that  known  at  the  present  day.   [JVoie  H.]    It 
appears  that  a  lai^ge  quantity  was  requisite  to  insure 
death.     The  poison  was  swallowed  in  the  crude 
juice,  recently  expressed  from  the  plant.     Of  this 
the  draught  taken  by  Phocion  was  large  enough  to 
cost  twelve   drachmae.^      Socrates  was  prevented 
from  making  a  libation  of  a  part  of  the  contents 
of  his  fatal  cup,  by  being  told  that  the  whole  was 
necessary  to  produce  the  consummation  of  his  sen- 
tence.    A  large  quantity  of  the  modern  hemlock 
might  probably  have  been  equally  fatal,  though 
with  more  violent  symptoms  than  those  which,  if 
Plato  be  correct,  were  experienced  hj  the  Atheni- 
an philosopher. 

The  plant,  represented  in  our  plate,  undoubt- 
edly came  to  us  from  Europe.  It  is  now  suffi- 
ciently  common  in  the  United  States,  about  road 

*  Plutarch,  Life  of  Phocion. 


116  CONIUM  MACULATtJM. 

sides  and  in  waste  ground,  especially  in  those 
parts  of  the  country  which  have  been  longest  set- 
tled. It  is  usually  found  in  bunches,  and  attains 
the  full  height  of  a  man.  It  flowers  from  June 
until  the  arrival  of  frost. 

The  very  natural  order,  called  Umbellatge  by 
Linnaeus  and  Umbelliferse  by  Jussieu,  to  which 
tliis  plant  and  the  following  one  belong,  is  found 
in  the  class  Pentandria  and  order  Digynia  of  the 
Linnsean  artificial  method. 

The  genus  Conium  of  Linnseus  has  both 
general  and  partial  involucres,  the  latter  being 
halved.     The  fruit  roundish  and  furrowed. 

The  species  maculatum  has  the  fruit  un^ 
armed  with  the  ridges  undulated^ 

Its  more  complete  description  is  as  follows. 
Boot  biennial,  somewhat  fusiform  and  generally 
branched.  Stalk  round,  very  smooth,  striated,  hol- 
low, jointed,  and  more  or  less  marked  with  pur- 
plish spots.  Leaves  two  or  three  times  pinnate, 
of  a  very  bright  green,  with  long,  sheathing  peti- 
oles inserted  on  the  joints  of  the  stem  ;  the  leafets 
pinnatifid  and  toothed.  Flowers  in  terminal 
umbels,  the  general  involucre  with  half  a  dozen 
-  lanceolate,  reflected  leafets,  the  partial  involucre 
with  three  or  four  situated  on  the  outside.  Flow- 
ers very  small,  white.     Petals  five,  oval  with  their 


HEMLOCK.  117 

points  inflexed.  Stamens  five,  spreading,  about  the 
length  of  the  corolla.  Germ  inferior.  Styles  two 
reflexed  outwardly.  Fruit  roundish-oyal,  com- 
pressed, ribbed,  the  ribs  being  transyersely  wrin- 
kled or  crenate  ;  separating  into  two  oblong-hem- 
ispherical seeds. 

Hemlock  when  fresh  has  a  strong  nauseous 
odour  and  taste.  If  the  green  leaves  are  distilledj 
the  water  which  collects  in  the  receiver  has  an  in- 
supportably  nauseous  taste,  while  that  wliich  re- 
mains in  the  retort  is  comparatively  insipid. 
This  cu-cumstance,  and  likewise  the  fact  that  the 
dried  leaves  become  inert  by  age  and  exposure, 
render  it  probable  that  the  chief  medicinal  efficacy 
resides  in  a  volatile  portion  of  the  plant.  Of  the 
more  fixed  ingredients  of  Hemlock,  a  variety  of 
analyses  have  been  made.  The  most  recent  which 
I  have  met  with  is  that  of  Sclirader,  who  from  a 
thousand  grains  of  the  plant  obtained  the  foUoAving 
substances.  Extractive  27.3 — Gummy  extract 
35.2 — Resin  1.5 — Albumen  3.1 — Green  fsecula 
8. — He  also  detected  various  earthy  and  alkaline 
salts.  These  however  are  found  to  vary  according 
to  the  soil  in  which  the  plant  grows.  The  vola- 
tile portion,  which  I  obtained  in  water  distilled 
from  the  leaves,  did  not  exhibit  any  essential  oil, 
and  effected  no  change  in  the  colour  of  litmus.     It 


118  CONIUM  MACULATUM. 

was  not  altered  by  sulphate  of  iron  nor  acetite  of 
lead. 

The  Coniuni  maculatum  is  a  narcotic  poison, 
though  not  of  the  most  powerful  kind.  Instances  of 
fatal  effects  from  it  have  been  recorded  by  Dr.  Wat- 
son m  the  Pliilosophical  Transactions,  and  by  sev- 
eral other  writers.  A  remarkable  case  of  this  sort, 
which  occurred  in  Spain,  is  cited  by  Orfila  in  his 
Traid  des  poisons.  But  there  is  scarcely  any 
narcotic  plant  respecting  the  character  of  which 
such  various  and  opposite  testimony  has  been  ad- 
duced by  medical  writers.  Even  the  experiments 
of  the  same  individual  are  apt  to  present  different 
results  from  its  use,  unless  great  care  be  taken  in 
the  collection  and  preparation  of  the  medicine. 
The  truth  is,  the  plant  varies  exceedingly  at  differ- 
ent ages,  and  in  different  places  of  growth,  and  the 
strength  of  its  preparations  is  greatly  influenced  by 
external  cu'cumstances. 

When  the  green  leaves  of  a  mature  plant 
which  has  grown  in  the  sun,  or  the  juice  of  these 
leaves,  either  crude,  or  properly  inspissated,  is 
taken  into  the  stomach ;  the  following  symptoms, 
if  the  quantity  has  been  sufficient,  will  rarely  fail 
to  take  place  ;  viz.  a  dizziness  of  the  head  and 
nausea  of  the  stomach,  a  sense  of  fullness  in  the 
eyes  and  diminished  power  of  vision,  together  with 


HEMLOCK.  iiQ 

a  general  faintness  or  muscular  weakness  of  the 
whole  body.  These  sensations  usually  begin  in 
the  course  of  half  an  hour.  If  the  dose  has""  been 
moderate,  they  will  for  the  most  part  disappeai- 
in  the  course  of  half  a  day,  and  seldom  continue 
beyond  twenty  four  hours.  Larger  doses  occasion 
more  severe  symptoms,  as  it  happens  with  other 
narcotics. 

The  idiosyncrasies  of  different  persons  render 
them  variously  susceptible  of  the  action  of  Hem- 
lock. Some  are  but  slightly  affected  by  a  quanti- 
tj,  which  would  prove  dangerous  to  others. 

The  Hemlock  has  been  for  many  years  a  sub- 
ject  of  attention  with  physicians,  and  has  been 
found  a  remedy  of  importance  in  several  diseases. 
It  would  occupy  a  volume  to  state  the  whole  of 
the  evidences  which  have  been  given  for  and 
against  its  use.  I  shall  only  mention  those  com. 
plaints  in  which  it  has  been  most  employed,  and 
particularly  in  this  country. 

In  Jaundice— Dr.  Fisher,  President  of  the 
Massachusetts  Medical  Society,  in  his  paper  on  the 
narcotic  vegetables,  bears  unequivocal  testimony 
in  favour  of  the  efficacy  of  Hemlock  in  tliis  com. 
plaint.  He  was  first  induced  to  employ  it  with 
a  view  to  its  relaxing  effect  in  facilitating  the 
passage   of  biliary   calculi.      Afterwards    it   was 

16 


ISt)  CONIUM  MACULATUjM. 

gh  en  by  him  to  many  icteric  patients,   and  witli 
the  exception  of  three  complicated  cases,  it  never 
failed  in  his  hands  or  witliin  liis  knowledge  to  re- 
moYe  the  disease.     Dr.  Jackson,  Professor  of  the 
Theory  and  Practice  of  Physic  in  our  University, 
informs  me  that  he  has  found  it  of  great  utility  in 
jaundice,  and  that  except  in  one  or  two  instances, 
it  has  always  effected   the  cure    of  those    cases, 
which  proved  susceptible  of  relief  from  any  medi- 
cine.    I  have  repeatedl}^  employed  it  in  the  same 
complaint  with  indubitable  advantage.     The  dose 
should  be  gradually  increased  until  its  effects  are 
distinctly   felt   in  the  head  and  stomach.      This 
inconvenience  is  temporary,  and  will  be  preferred 
by  most  patients  to  the  evil  of  a  mercurial  ptya- 
lism.     The  yellowness  of  the  skin  and  eyes,  in  fa- 
vourable cases,  begins  to  disappear  at  an  early  pe- 
riod, frequently  by  the  second  day. — The  forego- 
ing practice  in  jaundice  is  not  new,  having  been 
employed  in  Sweden  by  Eosenstein,  and  in  other 
places. 

In  tic  doloureux.  In  a  discourse  on  this 
painful  disease  by  Dr.  Jackson,  }>ublished  in  the 
Kew  England  Journal,  Yol.  II.  a  number  of  cases 
are  detailed,  in  which  perfect  relief  was  afforded  by 
the  Hemlock  given  in  large  doses,  and  rapidly  in- 
creased until  a  decided  effect  upon  the  system  was 


HEMLOCK.  i2i 

felt.  Dr.  Jackson  recommends  to  begin  with  a 
single  gTain  of  the  extract,  and  to  increase  to  five 
grains  for  the  second  or  thu'd  dose  ;  afterwards  to 
add  five  grains  to  every  dose  until  a  full  effect  is 
felt  on  the  system.  In  this  discourse  he  cites  the 
experience  of  Dr.  Fothergill,  who  had  employed 
the  Conium  successfully  in  several  cases  of  tliis 
disease  under  a  different  name.  It  appears  also 
that  some  French  physicians,  whose  writings  1 
have  not  seen,  as  Chaussier  and  Dumeril,  have  con- 
firmed the  success  of  our  plant  in  tic  dolom^eux. 
It  must  he  confessed  however,  although  the  Hem- 
lock is  more  successful  in  this  complaint  than  per- 
haps any  internal  medicine,  which  has  been  tried  ; 
yet  there  are  cases  of  such  obstinacy,  as  wholly  to 
baffle  the  powers  of  its  operation. 

In  scliirrus  and  cancer.  Since  the  time  of 
Storck,  tliis  medicine  has  been  long  and  abundant-. 
ly  tried,  but  without  any  increase  of  reputation. 
The  experience  of  modern  physicians,  and  amono- 
others  of  M.  Alibert,  who  tried  it  in  more  than  a 
hundred  cases  in  the  hospital  of  St.  Louis,  have 
pretty  well  established  the  fact,  that  it  is  wholly  in- 
capable of  curing  either  scliirrus  or  cancer  of  the 
confirmed  and  genuine  kind.  It  is  however  still  ad- 
ministered, rather  with  a  view  to  its  anotlyne  and 
palliative  efiect,  than  any  expectation  of  radical  ben- 


i22  CONIUMMACULATUM. 

efit.     In  tills  way  its  external  use  is  sometimes 
serviceable. 

In  old  syphilitic  affections,  it  is  occasionally 
useful.  It  lias  been  recommended  in  hooping 
cough,  but  it  is  not  a  perfectly  safe  medicine  for 
cliildren,  owing  to  the  difficulty  ofascertaining  when 
its  constitutional  effects  take  place  in  them. — I 
am  informed  on  the  best  medical  authority,  that  it  is 
of  great  use  in  some  cases  of  hemicrania,  which 
are  not  regularly  intermittent. 

The   most  common  form   of  preserving  the 
Hemlock  for  use,  as  well  as  the  most  convenient  for 
its  exhibition,  is  that  of  the  inspissated  juice  or  ex- 
tract.    It  is  well  known  however,  that  the  extracts 
kept  in  our  shops  differ  materially  in  their  strength, 
so  that  in  beginning  from  a  new  parcel,  the  physi- 
cian can  seldom  predict  the  degree  of  operation  of 
his  jSrst  doses.     In  some  instances  very  great  quan- 
tities  have  been  taken  without  the  least  effect. 
The  extract  is  apt  to  prove  inert  when  the  plant 
is  gathered  too  young,  when  the  evaporation  is  con- 
ducted with  too  much  heat,  when  a  decoction  of 
the  dried  plant  has  been  evaporated  instead  of  the 
fresh  leaves,  and  lastly  when  the  extract  itself  has 
become  old.     To  give  the  extract  its  due  strength, 
the  plant  should  be  collected  at  full  maturity,  while 
in  flower,  or  in  fruit  provided  it  remains  green,  and 


HEMLOCK.  123 

tliejiiice  or  the  decoction  should  be  evaporated  at 
the  heat  of  boiling  salt  water.  The  stock  should  be 
renewed  every  year.  A  suitable  dose  for  commence, 
ment  is  from  one  to  five  grains.  This  may  be  in- 
creased at  every  time  of  taking  it,  until  its  constitu- 
tional effects  are  felt.  In  beginning  the  use  of  a 
new  parcel,  more  caution  is  requisite  at  first,  than 
after  its  strength  has  been  tested. 

The  ^thusa  cynapium,  an  umbellate  plant 
very  common  in  Boston,  has  sometimes  been  mis- 
taken for  Hemlock,  wliich  it  considerably  resem- 
bles. It  is  a  smaller  plant,  with  its  stalk  not  spot- 
ted. It  differs  also  in  having  no  general  involucre, 
wliile  its  partial  one  is  very  long. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Conium  Maculatum,  LiiofiEus.  Sp.  PZ.— AVoodviile,  t.  22.— 
Curtis,  Fl.  Loud.  i.  1 7 — Smith,  Engl.  Bot.  1. 1191.— Pttrsh,  i. 
195.— Ciciita  vulgaris,  Morisost,  Umb.  t.  6 — Parklyson,  Theatr. 

933 — Ciciita  major,  Lamarck,  Encijdopedie  Methodique Ci- 

cutaria  Tuigaris,  Cittsitts,  Hist.  200. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

^  Murray,  Apparatus  medicaminum,  i.  322.— Cuilek,  Mat.  Med. 
ii.  263.— FoTHERGTLt,  Med.  Obs.  iii.  400.— Hu.vter  on  the  ve- 
nereal, 108, 175, 199,  247,  &c.— Home,  Jlnnals  Med.  iii.  66.— But- 
TER,  Med.  Comment,  i.  373.— Fisher,  Mem.  Mas.  Soc.  i.— Jack- 
so^r,  JX".  Engl.  Journ.  ii.  105— Guersent.  Diet.  Sciences  Medi- 
rales,  v.  208.— Orfila,  Toxicologie,  ill.  279,  &c.  &c.  ^c. 


124}  CONIUai  MACULATUM. 

PLATE  XI. 

Fig.  1.  A  branch  of  Coiiiummaculatum. 
Fig.  2.  Flower  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  Fruit  magnified. 


J'/..W . 


*^:\ 


It 


126  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

instances  have  been  brought  to  light  of  fatal  ef- 
fects ensuing  from  tliis  plant  being  incautiously 
eaten  by  cliildren.  It  is  therefore  necessary  that 
the  species  should  be  suitably  designated,  that  a 
source  of  so  much  danger  may  be  known  and 
avoided. 

The  Cicuta  maculata,  to  which  I  have  applied 
the  name  of  American  Hemlock,  not  having 
heard  any  common  appellation  except  that  of 
Snakeweed,  inhabits  wet  meadows  and  banks,  from 
the  northern  to  the  southern  limits  of  the  United 
States,  flowering  in  July  and  August.  It  is  so  fre- 
quently cut  with  hay,  among  wliich  it  often  grows 
in  lai'ge  quantities,  that  we  might  expect  to  see  its 
deleterious  properties  operating  on  domestic  cat- 
tle, were  it  not  that  their  bodies  are  probably  less 
susceptible  of  its  poison  than  ours.  The  Euro- 
pean Cicuta,  above  mentioned,  is  higlily  noxious  to 
man,  and  to  some  domestic  animals,  yet  goats  and 
sheep  eat  it  with  impunity. 

The  genus  Cicuta  differs  from  other  genera 
of  umbellate  plants  in  having  no  general  involu- 
cre, a  short,  partial  involucre,  and  a  fruit  which  is 
nearly  orbicular^  compressed  and  furrowed.^ 

*  This  description  of  the  fruit  agrees  with  the  present  species 
and  also  with  Cicuta  bulbifera,  a  smaller  species  not  uncommon  about 
Boston.    The  Cicuta  virosa  of  Europe  I  have  never  seen. 


AMERICAN   HEMLOCK.  127 

The  species  iiiaciilata  has  a  fascicled  root  and 
oblong  leaves  with  mucronate  serratures. 

The  class  and  orders  are  as  in  the  last  article. 

This  plant  is  so  remarkable  for  the  form  of  its 
root,  that  had  not  the  name  of  maculata  been  con- 
firmed to  me  by  the  best  authorities,  I  shonld 
have  thought  that  of  fasciciilata  to  be  greatly  pre- 
ferable. Tlus  root  is  composed  of  a  number  of 
large,  oblong,  fleshy  tubers,  diverging  from  the 
base  of  the  stem,  and  frequently  being  found  of 
the  size  and  length  of  the  finger.  The  root  is  pe- 
rennial, and  has  a  strong,  penetrating  smell  and 
taste.  In  various  parts  of  the  bark  it  contains 
distinct  cells  or  cavities,  which  are  filled  with  a 
yellowish  resinous  juice.  The  plant  is  from  three 
to  six  feet  high.  Its  stem  is  smooth,  branched  at 
top,  hollow,  jointed,  striated,  and  commonly  of  a 
purple  colour,  except  when  the  plant  grows  in  the 
shade,  in  which  case  it  is  green.  The  leaves  are 
compound,  the  largest  being  about  three  times  pin- 
nate, the  uppermost  only  ternate.  Most  of  the  pe» 
tioles  are  furnished  with  long  obtuse  stipules, 
which  clasp  the  stem  with  theii*  base.  Leafets  ob- 
long acuminate,  serrate,  the  serratures  very  acute  or 
mucronated.  The  veins  end  in  the  notches,  and  not 
at  the  points  of  the  serratures.      The  flowers  grow 

in  umbels  of  a  middling  size,  without  a  general  invo- 
17 


128  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

lucre.  The  partial  umbels  are  furnished  with  iiir. 
volucres  of  very  short,  narrow,  acute  leafets.  The 
distinctness  or  sepai^ation  of  these  umbels  charac- 
terizes this  plant  at  a  distance  among  other  plants 
of  its  kind,  whose  umbels  are  more  crowded.  Ca- 
lyx of  five  very  minute  segments.  Petals  five, 
white,  obovate  with  inflected  points.  Fruit  nearly 
orbicular,  compressed,  ten  furrowed,  crowned  at 
top,  and  separating  into  two  semicircular  seeds. 

The  fleshy  root  of  the  Cicuta  maculata,  when 
pressed,  emits  from  its  divided  extremities  a  viscid 
yellowish  juice  of  a  strong  penetrating  taste.  This 
juice  dissolves  in  alcohol,  from  wliich  it  is  precipi- 
tated by  water.  When  distilled,  a  thick  volatile 
oil  collects  in  the  receiver  in  the  form  of  a  film 
upon  the  surface  of  the  water.  The  remainder  of 
the  juice  yields  a  resin  of  a  dark  orange  colour, 
fusible  and  inflammable.  The  decoction  of  the 
root  affords  a  pearl  coloured  fluid,  not  very  sensi- 
ble to  the  tests  of  mucus,  fsecula,  tannin  or  ex- 
tractive. 

In  August  1814,  an  account  was  sent  to  Bos- 
ton by  Br.  Stockbridge  of  Bath  (Maine)  of  the  ef- 
fect protluced  on  three  boys  by  eating  a  poisonous 
root,  which  they  had  dug  up,  supposing  it  to  be- 
long to  the  plant  called  "  Life  of  man."  One  of 
them  was  siezed  with  violent  convulsions,  frothed 


AMERICAN  HEMLOCK.  ^gg 

at  the  mouth,  and  died  in  an  hour  and  a  half.   The 
other  two  were  affected  with  vomitmg,  stupor,  dil- 
atation of  the  pupil,  great  paleness  and  universal 
distress  ;  which  symptoms  disappeared  m  one  in 
twenty  four,  and  in  the  other  in  thirty  six  hours. 
It  was  supposed  that  the  first  boy  had  swallowed 
about  a  drachm  of  the  root,  and  the  others  about 
half  that  quantity.     A  specimen  of  the  plant  was 
sent  to  me  at  the  same  time  with  the  account,  and 
proved  to   be  the  Cicuta  maculata.      Dr.  Stock- 
bridge's  letter,  wliich  was  published  in  the  K^ew 
England  Journal,  contains  two  other  cases  of  the 
effect  of  tliis  root,  in  one  of  wliich  it  proved  fatal. 
Shortly  after  the  publication  of  the  above  facts, 
an  article  appeared  in  the  New  York  Medical  Re-' 
pository,  containing  an   account   by   Dr.  Ely   of 
Butchess  county,  of  the   effects   of  an  unknown 
poisonous  root,  supposed  to  be  the   white  helle. 
bore.      Three  small  boys,   who  had  gone  into  a 
meadow  in  search  of  sweet  flag  root,  had  dug  up 
and   eaten    another  root    hj    mistake.      Two    of 
them  died  in  convulsions  in   about  an  hour  after 
they  had  swallowed  it.     They  discharged  much 
blood  and  froth  from  the  mouth  and  nose ;  then- 
eyes  were  fixed,  with  the  pupils  dilated,  and  a  rapid 
motion  of  the  eye  lids.     The  tlm^d  boy  vomited, 
and  recovered.     When  taken  to  the  place  the  next 


130  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

day,  he  pointed  out  the  spot  where  they  had  dug 
the  root,  and  where  a  considerable  quantity  of  it 
remamed.  Some  of  the  root  was  planted  by  Dr. 
Mitcliill  in  the  ]>few  York  Hospital  garden,  where 
it  vegetated  and  produced  flowers  and  fruit.  It 
turned  out  to  be  the  Cicuta  maculata  of  Linnseus. 
In  the  same  article,  is  a  letter  from  Dr.  Muhlen- 
berg, stating  that  he  had  received  specimens  from 
Savannah  and  from  West  Pennsylvania,  where  it 
had  destroyed  several  persons,  who  ate  it, by  mis- 
take for  angelica.  All  the  specimens  were  simi- 
lar, so  that  there  could  be  no  doubt  of  the  identity 
of  the  plant.  In  the  same  letter.  Dr.  Muhlenberg 
remarks,  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  the  poi- 
sonous quality  of  the  root  is  altered  by  cultivation 
in  a  dry  soil. 

The  foregoing  facts  are  sufficient  to  establish 
the  poisonous  character  of  the  plant  under  consid- 
eration. They  may  also  serve  to  shew  the  im- 
portance of  accm*ate  descriptions  and  faithful  en- 
gravings of  noxious  vegetables,  wliicli  may  enable 
even  unlearned  observers  to  distinguish  them  at 
sight.  There  can  be  little  doubt  that  cases,  like 
those  above  described,  have  occurred  iii  repeated 
instances,  which  have  never  met  the  l^ublic  eye. 
Perhaps  also  from  an  ignorance  of  the  real  cause 
of  the  s^^nptoms,  the  proper  remedies  have  been 


AMERICAN  HEMLOCK.  131 

neglected.  The  plant  is  extremely  common  in 
many  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  I  believe  its 
true  character  is  not  generally  suspected.  A  yery 
respectable  physician  informed  me,  that  it  was 
used  in  his  vicinity  as  a  gargle  for  sore  tlii'oats,  by 
people  unsuspicious  of  its  qualities. 

Since  the  discovery  of  its  narcotic  properties, 
the  Cicuta  has  been  used  in  small  doses,  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  the  conium,  by  one  or  two  practitioners  in 
tills  place.  Its  effects  were  very  analogous  to  those 
of  the  true  hemlock,  as  far  as  they  were  observed, 
but  more  powerful.  A  primary  symptom,  wliich 
attended  a  large  dose,  was  nausea  and  vomiting. 

The  treatment  of  persons  poisoned  by  this 
plant,  as  in  the  case  of  other  narcotics,  should  pri- 
marily consist  in  a  thorough  evacuation  of  the  stom- 
ach. As  there  commonly  exists  a  spontaneous 
tendency  to  vomit,  occasioned  by  the  poison  itself, 
this  should  be  assisted  by  mechanical  means,  by 
irritating  the  tliroat  with  the  finger,  or  with  a  feath- 
er. Of  emetics,  the  sulphate  of  zinc  is  to  be  pre- 
ferred, on  account  of  its  speetly  operation.  Cas- 
tor oil  or  infusion  of  senna,  shoukl  be  given  as 
soon  as  vomiting  has  taken  place.  The  vegeta])le 
acids,  such  as  lemon  juice  or  vinegar,  have  a  neu- 
tralizing influence  on  the  narcotic,  and  are  there- 
fore useful.     Stron^^'  coffee  and  tea  are  the  best  an- 


iS2  CICUTA  MACULATA. 

tidotes  for  the  stupor,  and  should  be  promptly  ad- 
ministered. In  violent  cases,  bloodletting  should 
be  resorted  to.  As  most  narcotic  poisons  act  by 
destroying  the  functions  of  the  brain,  respu'ation 
being  suspended,  because  it  is  under  the  influence 
of  that  organ  ;  Mr.  Brodie  is  of  opinion,  that  in 
some  cases,  life  might  be  preserved  by  keeping  up 
ai^tificial  respu^ation,  after  death  has  apparently 
taken  place. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cicuta  maculata.  Linnjbus  Sp.pl. — ^Puesh,  i  195. — ^gopo- 
dium  foliis  lanceolatis,  acuminatis,  serratis.  Gnoivovius,  Virgt 
32. — Angelica  Caiibeearum  elatior,  olusatri  folio  ;  flore  albo  5 
seminibus  kiteis,  striatis,  cumiui  odore  et  sapore  ?  Pxukenet, 
Mm.  31,  Phyt.  t.  76,  f.  1. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHffiPF,  36. — Bart.  Coll.  18,  46. — Stockbeidge,  JVetv 
Engl.  Journal,  iii.  334.     Mitchill,  EtT  and  Muhlenberg, 

Med.  Repository,  xvii.  303. 


ri.jcJJi. 


Sr^ 


^^t€iCrrili4.y    trytrf/oiffi 


134  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

and  it  is  said  to  extend  near  to  the  southern  lim- 
its of  the  Union.  Michaiix,  in  his  account  of  the 
forest  trees,  states,  that  it  is  particularly  abundant 
through  the  whole  range  of  Allegany  mountains, 
upon  the  borders  and  near  the  sources  of  rivers. 
It  gradually  diminishes  however  on  both  sides  as 
these  rivers  approach  to  the  sea,  or  to  then*  con- 
fluence with  the  great  western  streams. 

The  botanical  character  of  the  genus  consists 
in  a  jive  parted  calyoc^  a  hy po  crater  if orm  corolla^ 
containing  ten  depressions  in  its  border,  in  which 
the  anthers  are  lodged ;  a  capsule  jive  celled. 

The  specific  chai*acter  is,  that  the  leaves  are 
scattered,  petioled,  oval  and  smooth  ;  the  coryjnbs 
terminal,  viscid  and  pubescent. 

Class  Lecandria,  order  Monogynia.  Katui^l 
orders  Bicornes,  Linn.  Mhododendra,  Juss. 

The  height  of  the  Kalmia  latifolia  is  generally 
that  of  a  shiaib,  sometimes  however  attaining  to 
the  altitude  of  a  small  tree.  Its  leaves  are  ev- 
ergreen, coriaceous,  very  smooth,  with  the  under 
side  somewhat  palest.  Their  form  is  oval,  acute 
and  entire  ;  their  insertion  by  scattered  petioles,  on 
the  sides  and  extremities  of  the  branches.  The 
flowers  vary  from  wliite  to  red;  they  grow  in  termi- 
nal corymbs,  simple  or  compound  with  opposite 
branches,  and  made  up  of  slender  peduncles.  These 


Mountain  laurel.  13S^ 

are  invested  with  a  glutinous  pubescence,  and  sup- 
ported at  base  by  oyate,  acuminate  bractes.  The 
calyx  is  small,  five  parted,  persistent,  with  oval,  a- 
cute  segments.  The  corolla  is  nionopetalous,  with 
a  cylindrical  tube,  a  spreading  disc,  and  an  erect,  five 
cleft  margin.  At  the  circumference  of  the  disc 
on  the  inside,  are  ten  depressions  or  pits,  accom- 
panied with  corresponding  prominences  on  the 
outside.  In  these  depressions  the  anthers  are 
found  lodged  at  the  time  when  the  flower  expands. 
The  stamens  originate  from  the  base  of  the  corol- 
la, and  bend  outwardly,  so  as  to  lotlge  their  an- 
thers in  the  cells  of  the  corolla.  From  tliis  con- 
finement they  liberate  themselves  during  the  pe- 
riod of  flowering  and  strike  against  the  sides  of 
the  stigma.  The  germ  is  roundish,  the  style  lon- 
ger than  the  corolla  and  declined,  the  stigma  ob- 
tuse. Capsule  roundish,  depressed^  five  ceiled 
and  five  valved,  with  numerous  small  seeds. 

I  have  examined  chemically  the  leaves  of  the 
ILalmia,  gathered  at  the  time  the  slii^ub''  was  in 
fruit.  The  following  constituent  principles' were 
found  to  exist  in  them. 

1.  Vegetable  mucus.  This  exists  in  large  quan- 
tities, and  is  dissolved  in  water  both  by  infusion 
and  decoction,  rendering  it  extremely  muciia&i- 
Eous  or  ropy.     When  alcohol  is  added  to  this  so- 


136  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

lution,  the  mucus  separates  in  the  form  of  a  floe- 
culent  coagukim,  which  is  tough  and  stringy,  and 
on  di'jing  has  a  brownish  colour.  When  chewed, 
it  soon  fills  the  mouth  with  mucilage. 

Silicated  potash  rendered  the  upper  stratum  of 
the  liquid  dark  and  opaque,  but  without  any  pre- 
cipitate like  that  which  takes  place  in  the  mucilage 
of  gum. 

2,  Tannin.  This  is  readily  thi^own  down  from 
the  decoction  and  tincture  by  gelatin.  The  sul- 
phate of  iron  strikes  with  it  a  very  black  colour. 

3.  Resin.  Tliis  also  exists  plentifully.  It 
communicates  to  alcohol  a  reddish  colour,  and  is 
instantly  precipitated  from  it  by  water.  When 
obtained  pure,  it  is  of  a  reddish  cast,  fusible,  in- 
flammable and  moderately  bitter. 

I  have  not  detected  any  extractive,  properly 
so  called,  in  these  leaves.  When  the  muriate  of 
tin  is  added  to  the  decoction,  it  separates  a  very 
copious  yellow  precipitate.  Tliis  however  is  ow- 
ing to  the  mucus.  If  alcohol  be  first  added  to  the 
decoction,  and  the  coagulum  which  it  forms  with- 
drawn ;  the  fluid  no  longer  gives  a  precipitate  with 
muriate  of  tin,  although  it  readily  yields  one  to 
gelatin. 

Distillation  with  w  ater  affords  a  mild  fluid  with 
little  taste  or  odour. 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  137 

The  Kalmia  latifolia,  together  with  some  oth- 
er species  of  its  genus,  has  long  had  the  reputa- 
tion, in  various  parts  of  the  country,  of  heing  poi- 
sonous to  certain  domestic  animals.  Catesby  says 
of  it,  that  "d«er  feed  on  its  green  leayes  with  im- 
punity ;  yet  when  cattle  and  sheep,  by  severe  win- 
ters deprived  of  better  food,  feed  on  the  leaves  of 
this  plant,  a  great  many  of  them  die  annually." 

Kalm,  the  Swedish  traveller,  who  gave  name 
to  this  genus,  says  of  Kalmia  latifolia,  "  The  leaves 
are  poison  to  some  animals,  and  food  for  others  ; 
experience  has  taught  the  people,  that  when  sheep 
eat  of  these  leaves,  they  either  die  immediately, 
or  fall  very  sick,  and  recover  with  great  difficulty. 
The  young  and  more  tender  sheep  are  killed  by  a 
small  portion,  but  the  older  ones  can  bear  a  stron- 
ger dose.  Yet  this  food  will  likewise  prove  mor» 
tal  to  them,  if  they  take  too  much  of  it.  The 
same  noxious  effect  it  shews  in  regard  to  calves 
which  eat  too  much  of  the  leaves  ;  the}^  either  dicj 
or  do  not  recover  easily.  I  can  remember  that  in 
the  year  1748  some  calves  ate  of  the  leaves  ;  they 
fell  very  sick,  swelled,  foamed  at  the  mouth  and 
could  hardly  stand  ;  however,  they  were  cured  by 
giving  them  gunpowder  and  other  medicines.  The 
sheep  are  most  exposed  to  be  tempted  with  these 
leaves  in  winter,  for  after  having  been  kept  in  sta- 


138  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

bles  for  some  months,  tliey  are  greedy  of  all  greens^ 
especially  if  the  snow  still  lies  upon  the  ground, 
and  therefore  the  green  but  poisonous  leaves  of 
the  Kalmia  are  to  them  very  tempting.  Horses, 
oxen  and  cows,  which  have  eaten  them,  have  like- 
wise been  very  ill  after  the  meal,  and  though  none 
of  them  ever  died  of  eating  these  leaves,  yet  most 
people  believed,  that  if  they  took  too  great  a  por- 
tion of  them,  death  would  certainly  be  the  result." 
"  On  the  other  hand,  the  leaves  of  the  Kalmia  are 
the  food  of  stags,  when  the  snow  covers  the  ground 
and  hides  all  other  provisions  from  them.  There- 
fore, if  they  be  shot  in  winter,  their  bowels  are 
found  filled  with  these  leaves,  and  it  is  very  extra- 
ordinary, that  if  those  bowels  are  given  to  dogs, 
they  become  quite  stupid,  and,  as  it  were,  intoxi- 
cated, and  often  fall  so  sick,  that  they  seem  to  be 
at  the  point  of  death  ;  but  the  people  who  have 
eaten  the  venison  have  not  felt  the  least  indisposi- 
tion."— Travels  in  JS'^orth  America,  vol.  i. 

There  is  a  common  belief,  that  the  flesh  of  the 
American  Pheasant  or  Partridge  is  at  certain 
times  imbued  with  a  poisonous  quality.  This 
cii'cumstance  has  been  attributed  (I  know  not  with 
what  evidence)  to  their  feeding  in  winter  upon  the 
buds  of  the  Kalmia.  Mr.  Wilson,  the  ornitholo- 
gist, informs  us,  that  he  has  sometimes  found  the 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  139 

crops  of  these  birds  distended  almost  entii^ely  with 
laurel  buds ;  but  that  he  has  eaten  freely  of  the 
flesh  of  these  very  bu-ds,  without  any  ill  conse- 
quence whatever. 

On  the  human   system,  the  Kalmia  has  been 
also  said  to  manifest  a  deleterious  influence.    The 
late  Professor  Barton  has  atkluced  some  evidences 
of  its  noxious  character.*     He  states  that  the  In- 
dians make  use  of  a  decoction  of  the  leaves  to  de- 
stroy themselves.      In  an  Inaugural  Dissertation 
on  two  species  of  Kalmia,  the  latifolia  and  angus- 
tifolia,  by  Dr.  G.  K.  Thomas,  we  are  told  that  the 
leaves  of  these  shrubs  possess  a  decidedly  nai'cotic 
property.     I  have  not  recently  seen  Dr.  Thomas' 
Dissertation,   and   therefore  quote  from  memory 
and  from  extracts.     From  his  experiments  howev- 
er it  appeared,  that  a  very  small  quantity  was  suffi- 
cient to  produce  sensible  inconvenience.     Thu*ty 
drops  of  a  strong  decoction,  given  six  times  a  day, 
are  said  to  have  occasioned  so  much  vertigo,  as  to 
render  it  necessary  to  diminish  the  frequency  of 
its  exhibition. 

Fi-om  my  own  experience,  I  am  not  disposed 
to  tliink  very  liighly  of  the  narcotic  power  of  the 

*  Dr.  Barton  states,  that  a  few  drops  of  the  tincture  poured  upon 
the  body  of  a  large  and  vigorous  rattlesnake,  killed  the  reptile  in  a 
very  short  time. 


140  KALMIA  LATIFOLIA. 

Kalmia.  I  have  repeatedly  chewed  and  swallowed 
agreenleaf  of  the  largest  size,  without  perceiving 
the  least  effect  in  consequence.  I  have  also  seen 
the  powder,  freshly  made  from  leaves  recently  dri- 
ed, taken  in  doses  of  from  ten  to  twenty  grainSj 
without  any  subsequent  inconvenience  or  percep- 
tible effect.  The  taste  of  these  leaves  is  perfectly 
mild  and  mucilaginous,  being  less  disagreeable 
than  that  of  most  of  our  common  forest  leaves. 

I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  the  noxious  eifect 
of  the  Kalmia  upon  young  grazing  animals  may 
be  in  some  measure  attributed  to  its  indigestible 
quality,  owing  to  the  quantity  of  resin  contained 
in  the  leaves. 

An  ointment  made  of  the  powdered  leaves  has 
been  recommended  in  tinea  capitis  and  some  oth- 
er cutaneous  affections.  I  have  seen  an  eruption, 
very  much  resembling  psora,  removed  by  it. 

The  wood  of  the  Kalmia  is  hard  and  dense,  ap- 
proaching in  its  character  to  that  of  box.  It  is 
much  used  for  the  handles  of  mechanics'  tools,  ^c. 
and  it  has  even  been  employed  as  a  material  for 
musical  instruments.  As  an  ornamental  shrub,  this 
species  stands  in  the  highest  rank,  and  by  the  fre- 
quency of  its  growth  and  the  brilliancy  of  its  flow- 
ers, it  contributes  in  a  great  degree  to  the  ele- 
gance of  the  natural  scenery  in  those  mountains 


MOUNTAIN  LAUREL.  I4I 

and  woods,  which  it  inhabits.  When  cultivated 
in  gardens,  it  requires  a  soil  wliicli  is  somewhat 
moist,  and  a  shady  or  northern  aspect. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Kalmia  latifolia,  Liiv.  Sp.  ^Z.— Curtis,  Bot.  Mag.  t.  175.— 
MicHAux/.  fibres  forestiers,  iii.  147",  t.  5.— Pursh  i.  296.— Cha- 
msedaphne  foliis  tini,  &c.— Catesby,  Carolina,  i'ut.  98.— Ledum 
floribus  buUatis.  &c.  Treav,  t.  38.— Cistus  cham^rhododendros, 
&C.  PXIIKENET,  Phijt.  t.  379,/.  6. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

KAJ.M,  travels,  I  335,  &c.— Bart.  Coll.  i.  18,  48;  ii.  2$. 

Thacher,  Lisp.  247. — Thomas,  Inaugural  dissertation. 

PLATE  XIIL 

Fig.  1.  Branches  of  Kalmia  latifolia  with  flowers  and  fruit. 

Fig.  2.  Stamens. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx  and  instil. 


SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 


Carolina  Pink  root. 

PLATE  XIV, 

We  are  told  by  different  writers,  that  this 
fine  plant  is  a  native  of  all  the  southern  states 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Georgia  and  Louisiana, 
growing  in  rich  soils,  especially  about  the  borders 
of  woods.  It  does  not  bear  the  severity  of  a  nor- 
thern winter.  For  my  living  specimens  I  was  in- 
debted to  my  excellent  and  learned  friend,  the 
late  Dr.  James  Macbride,  of  Charleston,  S.  C. 

The  genus  Spigelia  has  a  funnel  shaped  corol- 
la and  a  capsule,  which  is  double,  two  celled  and 
many  seeded.  The  species  Marilandica  is  peren- 
nial, with  a  simple  stem  and  opposite  leaves. 

Class  PerifantlWft;  order  Monogynia,  Natural 
orders  Stellatce,  Lin.  Gentianm,  Juss. 

The  root  of  the  Spigelia  Marilandica  is  peren- 
nial, with  many  fibrous  branches.  The  stalks 
proceed  several  from  a  root  5   they   are    simple 


M^^ 
f^^ 


ffi 


CAROLINA  PINK  ROOT.  143 

four  sided  and  nearly  smooth.     Leaves  opposite, 
sessile,  ovate,  acuminate,  entire,  smooth,  with  the 
mai^^ins    and  veins  sometimes   puhescent.     The 
stalk  commonly  terminates  in  a  simple   one-sided 
raceme  of  flowers,  although  I  have  seen  luxuriant 
specimens  with  two.     The  peduncles  are  extreme- 
ly short,  so  that  the  raceme  may  without  impro- 
priety be  denominated  a  spike.     Calyx  persistent, 
with  five  linear-subulate,   finely  serrulate  leaves, 
which  are  reflexed  in  the  ripe  fruit.     Corolla  five 
times   as  long  as  the   calyx,   scarlet  or  crimson 
without,  orange  coloured  within,  the  tube  inflated 
and  angular  at  top,  the  border  divided  into  five 
acute,  spreading  segments.     Stamens   very  short, 
inserted  into  the  mouth  of  the  corolla  between  the 
segments  ;  anthers   oblong-heart  shaped.     Germ 
small,  superior,  ovate.     Style  longer  than  the  co- 
rolla, jointed  near  its  base  and  bearded  at  the  ex- 
tremity.    Capsule  double,  consisting  of  two,   co- 
hering, one  celled,  globular  portions,   seated  on  a 
common  receptacle. 

The  Spigelia  is  a  mucilaginous  plant,  with  a 
mild  and  not  very  disagreeable  taste.  The  infu- 
sion and  decoction  of  the  root  and  leaves  aiford 
a  flocculent  precipitate  with  alcohol.  They  are 
discoloured  but  not  precipitated  by  silicated  pot- 
ash. They  have  little  sensibility  to  gelatin,  al- 
19 


144  SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 

tliougli  the  tincture  is  made  turbid  by  it.  After  the 
decoction  was  filtrated  from  the  mucus,  which  had 
been  coagulated  by  alcohol,  it  gave  a  precipitate 
with  nitrate  of  mercury,  but  none  with  muriate  of 
tin.  Sulphate  of  iron  caused  a  dark  green  precip- 
itate from  the  decoction,  and  but  little  change  in 
the  tincture.  No  distinct  evidence  of  resin  pre- 
sented itself.  A  substance  which  may  perhaps 
be  considered  a  variety  of  extractive  matter,  ap- 
pears to  exist  in  this  plant,  as  the  tincture  was 
affected  in  nearly  the  same  manner  by  the  salts 
of  tin  and  mercury  above  mentioned,  as  the  fil- 
trated decoction. 

Water  may  be  considered  an  adequate  solvent 
for  the  chief  proximate  principles  of  this  plant. 

The  medicinal  reputation  of  the  Spigelia  is 
founded  on  the  powers  which  it  is  supposed  to 
possess  as  a  vermifuge.  This  reputation  is  now 
so  generally  established,  that  the  plant  has  be- 
come a  considerable  article  of  commerce  to  vari- 
ous parts  of  the  world,  from  our  southern  states. 
Tliis  is  a  sufiicient  evidence,  that  the  medicine 
has,  to  a  certain  extent,  satisfied  public  expecta- 
tion, and  obtained  the  sanction  of  practitioners. 
But  beyond  tliis,  it  is  difficult  to  speak  confident- 
ly on  the  subject.  The  Spigelia  belongs  to  a 
class  of  medicines,  which  are  frequently  prescrib- 


CAROLINA  PINK  ROOT.  145 

ed,  without  positive  proof  of  the  existence  of  the 
cause  which  they  are  intended  to  remove  ;  which 
often  fail  altogether  in  the  hands  of  the  most  suc- 
cessful practitioners  ;  which  frequently  succeed 
merely  because  they  are  hacked  with  medicines 
of  a  more  active  class  ;  and  whose  apparent  suc- 
cess is  sometimes  the  consequence  solely  of  a  dis- 
eased state  of  the  body.*  Our  plant  is  however 
entitled  to  trial,  especially  where  it  can  be  obtain- 
ed  fresh,  and  in  full  strength.  A  physician  of  the 
southern  states,  for  whose  opinion  I  have  much 
respect,  Dr.  ISTorcom  of  Edenton,  N.  C.  inform- 
ed me  some  years  since,  that  the  Spigelia  was 

*  From  the  list  of  equivocal  anthelmintics,  I  would  except  those 
which  have  a  cathartic  operation,  also  a  number  of  mineral  origin. 
But  I  am  fully  persuaded,  that  many  reputed  vermifuges  have  en- 
joyed  a  reputation  which  they  do  not  deserve.  The  Dolichos pruriens 
has  received  the  commendations  of  practitioners  and  medical  writers, 
on  the  presumption  that  its  spiculae  exert  the  same  stimulant  effect  on 
the  bodies  of  worms  in  the  alimentary  canal,  that  they  do  on  the  nu- 
man  skin  externally.  I  was  long  ago  inclined  to  doubt  the  power 
of  these  spiculse  to  withstand  the  digestive  process  of  the  stomach. 
My  suspicions  were  confirmed  upon  finding  that  simple  macera^ 
lion  in  warm  water  for  an  nour,  dissolves  their  virus,  and  renders 
them  incapable  of  producing  their  usual  stimulus  of  itching,  fwhen 
applied  to  the  skin.  Some  late  experiments  by  my  pupil,  Dr.  Chan- 
dler,  have  shewn  that  the  gastric  juice  destroys  their  activity  in  the 
same  manner. 

It  is  not  necessary  in  this  place  to  revert  to  the  Fern  root  of  Mad- 
ame Nouffer,  and  various  other  exploded  anthelmintics  of  its  kind. 


146  SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 

most  active  when  recently  dried,  and  tliat  its 
efficacy  was  always  impaii'ed  by  keeping  more 
than  six  months.  Dr.  Garden  had  previously 
made  observations  somewhat  similar.  If  tliis  be 
the  case,  we  may  account  for  its  failures  in  the 
hands  of  those  who  obtain  it  at  a  distance  when 
half  a  dozen  years  old. 

Drs.  Lining,  Garden,  and  Chalmers  of  Caroli- 
na, are  the  writers  who  first  introduced  the  Spi- 
gelia  to  notice,  and  who  have  spoken  most  une- 
quivocally in  its  praise.  Each  of  these  physi- 
cians has  represented  it  as  an  anthelmintic  of 
superior  efficacy.  It  appears  that  under  certain 
circumstances,  it  is  capable  of  operating  as  a  ca- 
thartic, and  that  in  these  instances,  the  most  ad- 
vantage has  been  experienced  from  it.  Dr.  Gar- 
den says,  that  he  had  given  it  in  hundreds  of 
cases,  and  that  he  "  never  found  it  do  much  good 
except  when  it  proved  gently  purgative."  As  the 
action  of  the  Spigelia  upon  the  bowels  is  quite 
uncfertain,  most  practitioners  either  unite,  or  fol- 
low it  with  calomel  or  some  purgative  medicine. 

We  are  told  that  the  pink  root,  when  in  its 
most  active  state,  if  given  m  large  quantities,  indu- 
ces narcotic  symptoms,  such  as  stupor,  headach, 
dilated  pupil,  ^c.  Dr.  H.  Thompson,  who  took 
large  doses  of  the  root  to  try  its  effect  on  himself. 


CAROLINA  PINK  ROOT.  14^ 

found  that  it  produced  an  increased  quickness  of 
the  pulse,  drowsiness,  flushing  of  the  face  and 
stiifness  of  the  eyelids.  Dr.  Chalmers  attributes 
to  its  too  free  use  the  cases  of  two  childi'en,  who 
died  in  convulsions.  Dr.  Macbride  informs  us 
that  its  narcotic  effects  are  seldom  or  never  at- 
tended with  danger,  and  that  some  physicians 
consider  them  an  evidence  of  the  favorable  opera- 
tion of  the  medicine.  The  opinion  that  tliis  effect 
is  owing  to  the  root  of  some  deleterious  plant 
taken  up  with  the  Spigelia,  seems  to  be  void  of 
foundation. 

As  in  most  other  perennial  plants,  the  root  of 
the  Spigelia  possesses  a  greater  share  of  activity 
than  the  herb.  Of  this  root  ten  grains  may  be 
given  in  powder  to  a  cliild  four  years  old,  twenty 
to  one  which  is  seven,  and  a  di-achm  to  an  adult. 
If  no  inconvenience  ensue,  it  may  be  repeated  two 
or  three  times  a  day.  If  the  infusion  is  prefer- 
red, an  ounce  of  the  root  may  be  infused  in  a  pint 
of  water,  and  half  the  quantity  taken  by  an  adult 
or  one  or  two  spoonfuls  by  a  cliild. 

BOTAISICAL  REFERENCES. 

Spigelia  Marilandica,  Liior.  Sp,  ^jZ.^Cfrtis,  Bot.  Mag.  t. 

80.— WooDviiXE,  ii.  t.  105.— Waxter,  Flou  Car.  92 -Mi- 

cHAux,  i,  147.— PuESH,  i,  139 — EiiioTT,  i.  236.— Lonlcera 


148  SPIGELIA  MARILANDICA. 

spicis  terminalibus,  &c.  Gronov.  Virg,  SO. — ^Periclymeni  Vir- 
giniani  flore  cocoineo  planta  Marilandica,  &c.  Catesby,  ii.  U  78. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Chaimers,  071  the  weather  and  diseases  of  South  Carolina)  i. 
67. — Lining,  Essay Sf  phys.  and  lit,  i.  436.  Garden,  ditto,  iii. 
145.— Home,  Clin,  exper,  420. — Murray,  .ij)p.  Med.  i.  548— 
Macbride,  in  Elliott's  Car.  237. — Thompson,  Inaug.  JHss. 


PLATE  XIV. 

Fig.  1.  Spigelia  Marilandica. 

Fig.  2.  The  capsule  with  the  reflected  calyx. 

Fig.  5.  Corolla  opened. 


FJ.n'. 


^fua.gihg- 


a: 


qualit 


widely  d- 


150  ASARUM   CANADENSE. 

On  plucking  the  plant,  the  two  leaves  are  found 
connected  below,  with  an  obscui^e  flower  in  their 
fork,  wliich  had  rested  on  the  surface  of  the 
ground,  or  been  buried  under  the  decayed  leaves 
and  sod.     Its  flowering  time  is  from  May  to  July. 

Tliis  plant,  from  the  number  of  its  stamens, 
is  placed  by  Linnseus  and  Michaux  in  the  class 
Bodecandria.  Pursh,  who  has  omitted  this  class 
in  his  Flora,  has  transferred  the  Asarums  to  Gy- 
nandria,  from  the  cu^cumstance  that  the  stamens 
are  inserted  on  the  germ.  Tliis  place  however  is 
not  better  suited  to  the  As  arum,  than  to  a  multi- 
tude of  other  plants  whose  germ  is  inferior. 

Linnseus'  natural  order  for  this  plant  is  Sar- 
mentacece  and  Jussieu's  Jiristolochice. 

Generic  character.  Calyoo  three  or  four  cleft, 
superior;  corolla  none;  anthers  growing  to  the 
middle  of  the  filaments.  Capsule  coriaceous, 
crowned. 

Specific  character.  Leaves  two,  reniform ; 
calyoc  ivoolly,  cleft  to  the  base;  its  segments 
spreading  at  top. 

The  root  of  the  Asarum  is  creeping,  fleshy, 
and  somewhat  jointed.  Leaves  kidney  shaped, 
pubescent  on  both  sides,  with  long,  round,  haii'y 
petioles.  Flower  solitary,  growing  from  the  fork 
of  the  stem,  on  a  pendulous  hairy  peduncle.     Ca- 


WILD  GINGER.  151 

lyx  very  liaiiy  or  woolly,  consisting  of  three  broad, 
concave  leafets,  which  are  mostly  of  a  brownish 
or  dull  purple  on  the  inside  at  top  and  bottom, 
and  terminated  by  a  long,  spreading,  inflected 
point,  with  reflexed  sides.  The  colour  varies 
greatly  according  to  the  amount  of  light  which 
the  plant  enjoys,  being  sometimes  nearly  green. 
Stamens  twelve,  inserted  on  the  germ  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  calyx,  the  alternate  ones  longer. 
Anthers  growing  to  the  filaments  below  theu^  ex- 
tremity, l^ear  the  divisions  of  the  calyx  are 
three  sliort,  curved,  filamentary  substances,  which 
may  perhaps  be  called  nectaries.  Germ  mferior, 
somewhat  hexagonal,  marked  at  top  inside  with  a 
dark  red  line  ;  style  conical,  striate,  parted  at  top 
into  six  recurved,  radiating  stigmas. 

The  root  of  the  As  arum  has  an  agreeable  aro- 
matic taste,  which  is  intermediate  between  that  of 
ginger  and  the  aristolochia  serpentaria.  This 
quality  has  given  it  the  names  of  Wild  ginger  and 
Snake  root  in  different  sections  of  the  country. 
The  name  ColVsfoot  is  also  applied  to  it. 

The  chemical  trials,  to  which  I  have  subjected 
the  root,  bring  to  view  the  following  substances: — 
1.  A  light  coloured,  pungent,  volatile  oil,  possess- 
ing the  characteristic  taste  and  smell  of  the  plant 

in  a  high  degree.     2.  A  resin,  which  is  of  a  red- 
20 


152  ASARUM  CANADENSE. 

dish  colour  and  very  bitter.  These  two  constitu- 
ents communicate  to  alcohol  the  active  properties 
of  the  plant.  3.  Fcecula.  4.  A  gummy  mucus. 
Tliese  exist  in  such  quantities  as  to  impede  the 
filtration  of  the  decoction.  Astringency  hardly 
exists  in  tliis  root,  as  a  gelatinous  solution  gave  no 
evidence  of  tannin,  and  the  sulphate  of  iron  pro- 
duced a  green  colour  hardly  bordering  on  black. 
It  has  been  asserted,  and  the  statement  copied 
from  one  book  to  another,  that  the  Asarum  Cana- 
dense  is  a  powerful  emetic.  I  presume  that  sub- 
sequent writers  have  taken  their  opinion  from 
Cornutus,  who,  in  his  plants  of  Canada,  informs 
us,  that  two  spoonfuls  of  the  juice  of  the  leaves  of 
the  Asarum,  (meaning  the  European  plant,  rather 
than  the  American,)  ai^e  found  to  evacuate  the 
stomach  powerfully.  I  can  hardly  doubt,  that  if 
such  an  operation  has  really  been  produced  from 
the  Canadian  species,  it  must  have  taken  place 
in  irritable  stomachs,  to  whom  two  spoonfuls  of 
any  crude  vegetable  juice  would  have  proved 
emetic.  Having  seen  the  root  of  tliis  plant  used 
in  the  country  in  considerable  quantities  as  a 
sudorific,  I  was  long  since  induced  to  doubt  its 
emetic  power.  Subsequent  experience  has  satis- 
fied me  that  the  freshly  powdered  root,  given  to 
the  extent  of  half  a  drachm,  and  probably  in  still 


WILD  GINGER.  j_^^ 

larger   quantity,   excites   no  yomiting    nor    even 
nausea. 

Still  however  the  plant  deserves  not  to  he  dis- 
carded from  use.  The  aromatic  flavour  of  the 
root  is  more  agreeable  than  that  of  the  aristolochia 
serpentaria,  which  article  it  seems  to  resemble 
in  its  medicinal  powers.  Several  country  prac- 
titioners, who  have  employed  it,  have  spoken  to 
me  favourably  of  its  effect,  as  a  warm  stimulant 
and  diaphoretic.  As  a  substitute  for  ginger,  in 
common  domestic  use,  I  know  of  no  indigenous 
article  wliich  promises  so  fairly  as  tliis. 

Alcohol  is  the  proper  solvent  for  the  active 
properties  of  this  plant.  The  tincture  has  a  dark 
red  colour,  and  a  highly  concentrated  taste  of  the 
root. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Asarum  Canadense,  hix.  Sp.  pl.—MicuAvx,  i.  £79  —Puksh 
11.  596.-Asarumfoliisreniformibus,mucronatis,  binis,  GrJz.o' 
vius,  72.— Asaron   Canadense,  Corl^utus,  Canad,  24,  t   25  — 
Asaron  Americanum,  Parkinson,  theatr.  266. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHffiPF,  72.— Bart.  coll.  26,  48— Coxe,  Disp.  568. 


154  AS  ARUM  CANADENSE. 

PLATE  XV. 

Fig.  1.  Asanmi  Canadense. 

Fig.  2.  The  germ  with  the  stamens  and  nectareousJilaments» 

Fig.  3.  ►^  petal. 

Fig.  4.  ^  stamen  a  little  magnified. 

Fig.  5,  ^^2/ie  and  stigmas  magnijied^ 


p/^rn 


BLUE   FLAG.  157 

Leaves  sword  shaped,  striated,  sheathing  at  base. 
Bractes  becoming  scarious.  Peduncles  of  yarious 
length,  flattened  on  the  inside.  Germ  three  cor- 
nered, with  flat  sides  and  obtuse  angles.  Outer 
petals  of  the  flower  spatulate,  beardless,  the  bor- 
der purple,  the  claw  variegated  with  green,  yel- 
low and  white,  and  veined  with  purple.  Inner 
petals  erect,  varying  in  shape  from  spatulate  to 
lanceolate,  usually  paler  than  the  outer,  entu'e  or 
emarginate.  Style  short,  concealed;  stigmas  tliree, 
petal-form,  pm^ple  or  violet,  resting  on  the  outer 
petals,  then*  extremeties  bifid,  crenate,  and  more 
or  less  reflexed  ;  their  lower  lip  short.  Stamens 
concealed  under  the  stigmas,  with  oblong-Hnear 
anthers.  Capsule  three  celled,  three  valved ; 
when  ripe,  oblong,  turgid,  three  sided,  with  round- 
ish angles.     Seeds  numerous,  flat. 

The  young  leaves  of  this  and  some  other  spe- 
cies of  Iris,  aiford  an  excellent  view  of  the  spiral 
filament,  wliicli  lines  the  sap  vessels  of  the  leaf. 
If  a  leaf,  which  has  just  emerged  from  the  gi^ound, 
be  carefully  broken  across,  and  the  segments 
,  gradually  drawn  asunder,  these  fine  filaments  will 
unroll  themselves,  and  their  spiral  structure  be- 
come very  obvious  to  the  microscope. 

The  root  of  the  Iris  versicolor  has  a  nauseous 
taste,  and  when  swallowed  or  held  in  the  mouth. 


138  lllIS  VERSICOLOR. 

even  in  small  quantities,  it  leaves  behind  a  pow- 
erful sense  of  heat  and  acrimony  in  the  fauces. 
Its  most  active  chemical  constituent  appears  to  be 
a  resin,  which  separates  in  the  form  of  a  white 
precipitate,  when  water  is  added  to  the  alcoholic 
solution.  The  decoction  suffers  little  or  no 
change  with  alcohol,  gelatin  or  salts  of  iron.  Mu- 
riate of  tin  aifects  it  slightly,  the  nitrate  of  mer- 
cury more  abundantly.  Its  taste  is  much  weaker 
than  that  of  the  tincture.  Water  distilled  from 
the  root  has  a  highly  nauseous  taste  and  odour. 

The  root  of  the  Iris  versicolor  given  medicin- 
ally is  an  active  cathartic.  Mr.  William  Bartram, 
in  his  travels  in  Georgia  and  Florida,  informs  us, 
that  on  his  arrival  at  Ottasse,  an  Indian  town  on 
the  Tallapoose,  he  found  the  natives  "  fasting,  tak- 
ing medicine,  and  praying,  to  avert  a  grevious  ca- 
lamity of  sickness  which  had  lately  afflicted  them, 
and  laid  in  the  grave  abundance  of  then*  citizens. 
The  first  seven  or  eight  days,  during  which  time 
they  eat  or  drink  nothing,  but  a  meagre  gruel 
made  of  a  little  corn-flour  and  water  ;  taking  at 
the  same  time,  by  way  of  medicine  or  physic,  a 
strong  decoction  of  the  roots  of  the  Iris  versicolor^ 
wliich  is  a  powerful  cathartic.  They  hold  this 
root  in  high  estimation,  and  every  town  cultivates 
a  little  plantation  of  it,  havihg  a  large  artificial 


BLUE  FLAG.  159 

pond  just  without  the  town,  planted  and  almost 
overgrown  with  it." 

Having  myself  formerly  made  use  of  this  root 
in  dispensary  practice,  I  can  hear  testimony  to 
its  efficacy  as  a  medicine,  though  not  altogether 
to  its  convenience.  A  small  quantity  of  the  re- 
cent root,  or  a  few  grains  of  the  root  newly  dried, 
are  generally  certain  and  active  in  their  operation 
on  the  bowels.  They  are  however  apt  to  occasion 
a  distressing  nausea  like  sea  sickness,  with  a  pros- 
tration of  strength  of  some  hours'  continuance ; 
so  that  I  think  the  plant  will  not  he  like  to  come 
into  favor  as  a  cathai'tic,  at  least  when  better  ones 
are  at  hand.  The  activity  of  this  article  is  dimin- 
ished by  age. 

The  stimulating  properties  of  the  Iris  render 
it  capable  of  exciting  many  of  the  secretions,  as 
well  as  excretions.  But  I  know  of  no  purpose 
for  which  it  seems  better  calculated,  than  that  of 
a  diuretic.  The  late  Dr.  Macbride  of  Carolina  as- 
sured me,  that  he  had  found  great  benefit  in  drop- 
sical alFections  from  a  decoction  of  the  roots  of  this 
plant  in  combination  with  those  of  Eryngium  yuc- 
cifolium.  In  consequence  of  iiis  recommenda- 
tion, I  administered  the  tincture  of  the  Iris  in 
small  doses  to  several  persons  affected  with  ana- 
sarca and  with  hydro  thorax.  It  was  evidently  of 
SI 


160  IRIS  VERSICOLOR. 

service  to  a  majority  of  those  who  took  it,  for  a  cer- 
tain time.  That  it  did  not  always  cure  the  dis- 
ease, is  a  reproach  which  it  must  divide  with  diuret- 
ic remedies  of  much  older  celehrity. 

The  Iris  gracilis,  a  species  descrihed  in  the 
Florula  Bostoniensis,  the  Iris  pseudacorus  of  Eu- 
rope, and  several  others  of  the  genus,  appear  to 
possess  properties  very  similar  to  those  of  the 
plant  described. 


BOTAJSICAL  REFERENCES. 

Iris  versicolor,  Lin.  Sp.  pi. — DtLiEiyius,  Elth.  t  155.—. 
Curtis,  Bot.  Mag.  t.  21,  a  variety. — ^Pursh,  i.  29. — ^Eixiott^ 
Can  i.  45,    Walter,  Car,  67. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Bartram,  travelSf  454,  Lond.  edit. — Cutier,  Mem.  Jimer, 
Acad.  405 — 6. — Macbuibb,  in  Elliott^ s  Car.  i.  45. 


PLATE  XVI. 

Fig.  1.  Iris  versicolor. 

Fig.  2.  Style  and  stigmas  with  a  stamen. 


Ti  .^rvn. 


,7ry/t.j<//. 


i 
V 


^ 


■:f' 


¥ 


HENBANE.  163 

acute  lobes,  and  pointed ;  the  upper  ones  general- 
ly entire. 

The  flowers  form  a  revolute,  one  sided  spike 
at  the  end  of  the  stem  or  branch,  leaving,  as  they 
fall  off,  a  straight  row  of  capsules.  The  calyx  has 
five  short  acute  segments.  The  corolla  is  funnel 
shaped,  irregular,  with  five  spreading,  obtuse  seg- 
ments, of  a  pale  yellow  or  straw  colour,  with  a 
beautiful  net  work  of  purple  veins.  Stamens  in- 
serted in  the  tube  of  the  corolla,  with  lai^ge  oblong 
anthers.  Style  slender,  longer  than  the  stamens, 
tleclined,  with  an  obtuse  stigma.  Capsule  two 
celled,  roundish,  covered  with  a  lid,  and  invested 
with  the  persistent  calyx,  the  segments  of  which 
extend  beyond  the  calyx,  and  become  rigid  and 
prickly.  The  seeds  are  numerous,  small,  unequal, 
brownish,  and  are  discharged  by  the  horizontal 
separation  of  the  lid. 

From  such  chemical  experiments  as  I  have 
made  with  the  dried  leaves  of  the  Hyoscyamus, 
I  am  inclined  to  believe,  that  their  chief  soluble 
portion  is  a  variety  of  extractive  matter.  The 
watery  and  alcoholic  solutions  do  not  disturb  each 
other,  and  the  usual  tests  of  tannin  produce  in- 
considerable, or  no  alteration  in  either.  Of  vari- 
ous metallic  salts  which  affected  the  solutions,  the 


164  HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

nitrate  of  mercury  gave  the  largest  precipitate  in 
my  experiments. 

The  Hyoscyamus  has  long  been  known  as  a 
narcotic  poison.  This  character  it  uniformly  ex- 
erts in  regard  to  mankind,  although  many  brute 
animals  are  exempt  from  its  influence.*  Diosco- 
rides  speaks  of  it  as  producing  drowsiness  and  de- 
lu'ium. 

*  Horses,  goats,  sheep  and  swine  are  said  to  eat  it  without  inju- 
ry. Brute  animals  are  frequently  less  susceptible  of  the  influence  of 
poisons  than  mankind.  In  the  experiments  which  have  been  made  on 
them  to  test  the  effect  of  doubtful  medicines,  the  positive  evidences 
of  activity  which  they  furnish,  are  in  general  more  to  be  depended 
on,  than  the  negative.  That  is,  if  an  animal  suffers  from  the  action 
of  any  substance,  a  man  would  be  like  to  suffer  somewhat  in  the 
same  way.  Yet  if  the  animal  escapes  with  impunity,  it  does  not  fol- 
low that  the  man  would  be  equally  fortunate.  There  is  scarcely  any 
narcotic  plant  which  is  not  devoured  by  some  species  of  quadruped. 
Professor  Pallas  has  stated ,  that  the  hedgehog  can  devour  Cantharides 
by  hundreds  without  inconvenience,  whereas  one  of  these  insects  may 
occasion  serious  trouble  to  a  man.  The  following  case  happened  un- 
der my  own  observation.  A  large  eagle,  (Falco  ossifragus,J  intend- 
ed for  a  cabinet  of  natural  history,  was  subjected  to  a  variety  of  ex- 
periments, with  a  view  to  destroy  him  without  injuring  his  plumage. 
A  number  of  mineral  poisons  were  successively  given  him  without 
effect,  even  in  large  doses.  At  length  a  drachm  of  corrosive  subli- 
mate of  mercury  was  inclosed  in  a  small  fish  and  given  him  to  eat. 
After  swallowing  the  whole  of  this,  he  continued,  to  appearance,  per- 
fectly well  and  free  from  inconvenience.  The  next  day  an  equal 
quantity  of  arsenic  was  given  him  without  any  better  success.  So 
that  in  the  end,  the  refractory  bird  was  obliged  to  be  put  to  death  by 
mechanical  means. 


HENBANE.  165 

The  instances  recorded  of  deleterious  conse- 
quences, ensuing  from  the  Hyoscyamus  incau- 
tiously taken,  are  exceedingly  numerous.  In  a 
number  of  cases  the  roots  have  been  introduced 
by  mistake  among  culinary  vegetables,  and  have 
occasioned  alarming  symptoms  in  whole  families 
at  once.  In  a  case  cited  by  Wepfer,  the  monks 
of  a  whole  monastery,  in  consequence  of  some 
roots  being  boiled  among  those  of  chicory  with 
their  food,  were  seized  with  raving  delirium,  ac- 
companied by  intense  thirst,  impaired  vision  and 
other  violent  affections.  Dr.  Patouillat  has  re- 
corded in  the  Philosophical  Transactions,  vol.  40, 
the  case  of  nine  persons,  who  were  affected  with 
loss  of  speech,  convulsions,  and  at  length  with  vi- 
olent delirium.  These  symptoms  subsided  on 
the  subsequent  day,  when  it  was  found  that  some 
roots  of  Henbane  had  been  dug  up  in  the  garden 
the  preceding  day  by  mistake  for  parsnips,  and 
boiled  in  the  soup  on  which  the  family  had  dined. 
Sir  Hans  Sloane,  in  the  same  Transactions  for 
1733,  has  given  an  instance  of  effects  equally  dan- 
gerous, occurring  in  some  children  who  ate  the 
capsules  of  this  plant,  supposing  them  to  be  fil- 
berds.  Even  the  odour  of  this  noxious  vegetable 
seems  capable  of  exciting  its  characteristic  ef- 
fects.     In    a    case    cited  bv  Murray    from    the 


166  HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

Gazette  de  Smite  of  1773 — %  some  servants  who 
slept  in  a  barn,  where  the  Henbane  had  been 
scattered  for  a  defense  against  rats,  awoke  with 
head-ach,  dizziness  and  vomiting. 

In  instances  where  death  has  ensued  from 
swallowing  this  plant,  the  stomach  has  been 
found  to  exhibit  marks  of  inflammation,  and  dark 
or  gangrenous  spots. 

The  principal  use  which  is  made  of  Hyoscya- 
mus  in  medicine,  is  as  a  substitute  for  opium,  in 
cases  where  that  article  disagrees  with  the  pa- 
tient, or  is  contraindicated  by  particular  symp- 
toms. It  appears  to  be  free  from  the  constipat- 
ing qualities  of  opium,  and  in  some  instances  it  is 
found  to  fulfil  the  indications  which  call  for  an 
anodyne  and  soporific  remarkably  well.  Among 
medical  writers  who  have  spoken  favourably  of  its 
operation  are  Dr.  Whytt,  who  employed  it  in  va- 
rious nervous  diseases,  and  Mr.  Burns,  author  of 
different  obstetric  works,  by  whom  it  is  recom- 
mended as  preferable  to  opium  in  certain  puer- 
peral complaints.  Mr.  Benjamin  Bell  states,  that 
he  found  great  advantage  from  its  use  in  trouble- 
some cases  of  chordee,  after  opium  had  failed  to 
give  relief. 

It  must  be  acknowledged  however,  that  Hyos- 
cyamus  is  far  less  uniform  and  equal  in  its  opera- 


HENBANE.  167 

tion  than  opium,  and  that  although  in  some  con- 
stitutions it  mitigates  pain,  quiets  irritation,  and 
procures  sleep ;  yet  in  others  it  produces  un- 
pleasant  nausea,  confusion  of  ideas,  head-acli,  and 
sleep  which  is  lahorious  and  unrefreshing.  It  is 
rather  a  secondary  medicine,  to  he  resorted  to  af- 
ter the  failure  of  opium,  than  one  which  we  may 
confidently  apply  to  at  first,  with  reliance  on  its 
anodyne  effects. 

The  Henhane  w  as  found  efficacious  in  the  dis- 
ease of  colica  pictorum  hy  Stoll  and  several  others* 
Its  external  application  in  the  form  of  a  cata- 
plasm of  the  bruised  leaves  has  given  relief  in  va- 
rious tumors  and  painful  affections. 

For  internal  use  the  extract  should  he  prepar- 
ed in  the  same  way  as  that  of  stramonium.  From 
one  to  three  grains  of  this  extract  is  a  suitable 
commencing  dose,  which  may  be  gradually  in- 
creased until  its  effects  are  perceived. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Hyoscyamiis  iiiger,  Linf.  Sp.  pi. — Woodville,  i.  t.  52.— 
SxMiTH,  Engl.  Bot.  t.  591.— PussH,  i.  141.--Hyoscyamiis  flavus, 
FrcHsius,  Hist.  791.— Hyoscyamiis  vulgaris,  Bauhii^-,  J,  iii.  627. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Stoll,  ratio  med.  iii.  13,  423. — Cullen,  Mat.  MeiL  ii.  271.> 
FoTHERGiLL,  Med.   Soc.   Lond.  i.  310. — Ho3IE>  clinical  escfts-. 
22 


168  HYOSCYAMUS  NIGER. 

197. — ^Withering,  Med.  Cmiment.  Bee.  II,  vi.  SGr.— Kifg- 
lAKE,  Lond.  Med.  and  Fhys.  Journal^  v.  438. — Brown,  dittOf  iii. 
406. — Murray,  ^pp,  Med.  i.  655,  &c.  &c. 


PLATE  XVII. 

Fig.  1.  Hyoscijamus  niger. 

Fig.  2.  Corolla  laid  open. 

Fig.  S.  Calyx. 

Fig.  4.  Calyx  of  the  fruit  laid  open  to  shew  the  capsuk  within  it. 


Tl  .^ijn. 


•<?»'»/ «r  y^rr 


1 


li 


I    \ 


i 


Is  on] 
tnidu 
i)  M 

ffiter 

Tl,.' 
liriKili 
«iicn 
place, 
tlieju 
into  t 
tii;;li. 

>«i 

li... 


BITTER  SWEET.  171 

fiye  or  six  feet.  Leaves  petioled,  oYate,  acute,  en- 
tire, furnished  at  the  base  with  two  appendages, 
which  give  them  somewhat  of  a  hastate  form.  The 
lower  and  upper  leaves  are  frequently  without 
these  appendages.  The  flowers  form  a  loose,  nod- 
ding cluster  or  panicle,  shaped  like  a  cyme,  and 
taking  its  origin  opposite  to  a  leaf.  Calyx  of  five 
short,  purplish,  persistent  segments.  Corolla  ro- 
tate, becoming  re  flexed  as  it  grows  old,  divided  in- 
to five  acute  segments,  which  are  purple,  and 
marked  with  two  whitish  dots  at  the  base  of  each. 
The  filaments  are  much  shorter  than  the  anthers, 
and  inserted  in  the  short  tube  of  the  corolla.  An- 
thers yellov/,  erect,  cohering,  so  as  to  form  a  con- 
ical tube  around  the  style.  Germ  oval ;  style 
longer  than  the  stamens  ;  stigma  simple.  The 
berries  are  oval,  of  a  bright  scarlet  colour,  and 
continue  to  hang  in  bunches  after  the  leaves  have 
fallen. 

The  taste  and  smell  of  the  Dulcamai'a  are  less 
nauseous  than  those  of  many  other  species  of  So- 
lanum.  Water  seems  a  perfect  solvent  for  its 
most  sensible  constituents.  The  chief  soluble 
portion  seems  to  be  a  kind  of  mucous  extractive, 
which  is  taken  up  by  both  water  and  alcohol, 
though  most  by  the  former.  The  nitrate  of  mer- 
cury and  muriate  of  tin,  gave  precipitates  from 


±72  SOLANUM  DULCAMARA. 

both,  though  most  from  the  water.     The  chemic- 
al evidences  of  astringencj  were  very  slight. 

From  the  experiments  of  Hartmann  and  Kuhn, 
cited  by  Mm^ay,  we  may  infer  that  water  is  a 
better  solvent  for  this  plant  than  alcohol.  An 
ounce  of  the  twigs  or  stalks  treated  with  alcohol 
afforded  two  drachms  and  two  scruples  of  extract. 
The  same  quantity  treated  with  water  gave  tliree 
drachms  and  thirty  five  grains. 

The  Solanuni  dulcamara  has  formerly  receiv- 
ed the  commendations  of  many  authors,  some  of 
whose  names  are  of  high  authority  in  medicine. 
The  diseases  in  which  it  has  acquitted  confidence, 
are  chronic  rheumatism,  gout,  secondary  syphilis, 
incipient  phthisis,  asthma,  jaundice.  But  what- 
ever may  be  its  efficacy  in  these  complaints,  it  has 
in  modern  practice  given  place  to  more  active 
medicines.  Its  most  permanent  and  merited  rep- 
utation at  the  present  day,  is  derived  from  its  ap- 
plication to  external  complaints,  and  particularly 
to  cutaneous  diseases.  In  dissertations  upon  the 
properties  of  this  plant  by  Linnseus  and  by  Car- 
rere,  its  use  is  highly  commended  in  herpes,  in 
scabies,  and  in  some  of  the  secondary  forms  of 
syphilis.  Professor  Murray  has  added  his  own 
testimony  to  that  of  these  writers,  and  speaks  de- 


BITTER  SWEET.  173 

cisively  of  his  success  witli  it  in  cutaneous  diseas- 
es of  an  inveterate  character. 

In  the  more  recent  and  splendid  works  of 
Willan  antl  Bateman  on  Diseases  of  the  Skin, 
we  find  some  important  testimony  of  the  efficacy 
of  the  Dulcamara  in  cutaneous  affections.  The 
former  of  these  authors  has  inserted  in  his  work 
a  letter  of  Dr.  Crichton,  physician  to  the  West- 
minster hospital,  who  had  employed  the  article 
for  a  considerahle  numher  of  years.  Tliis  gen- 
tleman states,  that  out  of  twenty  three  cases  of 
Lepra  Gr^corum,  in  wliich  he  had  used  it,  two 
only  had  resisted  its  action.  He  does  not  assert 
that  it  is  equally  efficacious  in  other  cutaneous 
diseases,  although  it  had  appeared  to  liim  to  do 
good  in  psoriasis  and  pityiiasis.  His  mode  of 
employing  it  was  as  follows  : 

Take  of  stalks  of  Dulcamara,  one  ounce  ;  wa- 
ter, a  pound  and  a  half ;  boil  to  a  pound,  and 
strain  when  cold. 

Of  this  decoction  the  patient  took  two  ounces 
at  first,  morning",  noon  and  night,  but  the  quan- 
tity was  afterwards  increased,  until  it  amounted  to 
a  pint  per  day.  At  the  same  time  the  skin  was 
ordered  to  be  washed  with  a  stronger  decoction, 
which  proved  an  auxiliary  to  the  cure.  Dr. 
Crichton  found  that  in  delicate  people  and  hyster- 


174  SOLANUM  DULCAMARA. 

ical  women,  it  often  produced  syncope  and  slight 
palpitation  of  the  heart,  now  and  then  nausea  and 
giddiness.  But  if  the  dose  was  diminished,  or 
any  aromatic  tincture  added,  it  ceased  to  produce 
uneasy  symptoms.  The  good  effects  of  the  rem- 
edy were  seldom  perceived  until  after  the  first 
eight  days. 

Dr.  Bateman  considers,  that  '•  one  of  the  most 
eifectual  remedies  for  lepra  under  all  its  varieties 
is  the  decoction  of  the  leaves  and  twigs  of  the  So- 
lanum  dulcamara."  He  administers  it  in  the 
same  way  with  that  just  described.  "  When," 
says  he,  "  there  is  a  degree  of  torpor  in  the  super- 
ficial vessels,  the  same  decoction  made  with  a 
larger  proportion  of  the  shrub,  is  advantageously 
employed  as  a  lotion  ;  but  if  there  is  any  inflam- 
matory disposition,  this  and  every  other  external 
stimulus  must  be  prohibited." 

I  have  employed  the  Bitter  sweet,  both  in  sub- 
stance and  in  decoction  in  a  number  of  cutaneous 
affections.  It  appears  to  be  a  valuable  auxiliary 
to  mercury  in  the  treatment  of  sypliilitic  erup- 
tions. I  have  also  known  herpetic  eruptions  to 
yield  to  its  internal  and  external  use.  The  Amer- 
ican plant  however,  when  gathered  in  full  vigour^ 
does  not  set  easily  on  the  stomach  in  large  doses. 
I  have  known  vomiting  produced  by  a  few  grains 


BITTER  SWEET.  175 

of  the  powdered  leaves,  and  by  a  small  cup  of  the 
decoction.  The  strength  of  the  plant  seems  to 
vary  in  some  degree  with  the  time  of  gather- 
ing, and  mode  of  preserving.  Dr.  Cnllen  found 
different  parcels  of  the  article  to  exhibit  very  dif- 
ferent degrees  of  strength.  Writers  are  not 
agreed  as  to  its  immediate  effects  on  the  head  and 
stomach,  probably  from  the  different  age  and  con- 
dition of  the  medicine  employed  by  them.  From 
my  own  observation  I  am  induced  to  consider  the 
appearance  of  slight  narcotic  symptoms,  as  an  ev- 
idence of  the  goodness  of  the  medicine,  and  as  a 
criterion  for  regulating  the  dose.  The  formula  of 
Dr.  Crichton  for  the  decoction  appears  to  be  a 
good  one,  but  in  the  case  of  delicate  constitutions, 
the  commencing  dose  should  not  exceed  an  ounce^ 
wliich  may  be  afterwards  increased  according  to 
cu'cumstances.  The  addition  of  a  little  cinna- 
mon renders  the  decoction  less  apt  to  offend  the 
stomach. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Solaniim  dulcamara,  Linnjeus,  Sp.pl.- — Woodvixle,  t.  S3.— 
Smith,  Engl  Bot.  t.  565. — Pursh,  i.  156. — Solanum  scandens, 
seu    dulcamara. — Tournetort,  FariSf  43.— Glycypicros   sive 
amaradulci.s,  J.  Bauhiiv,  ii.  109. 
38 


lyg  SOLANUM  DULCAMARA. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 


BooERHAAVE,  Hist.  hovt  L.  B.  506. — LiNN^us,  Amoen.  Acad. 
iv.  39,  and  viii.  62. — Murray,  App.  med.  60S. — Carrere,  sur 
la  Bouce-amere,  1780,  and  in  Med.  and  Phys.  Journalf  i.  307.— 
CuilLEN,  Mat.  Med.  ii.  554 — ^Wili-an,  on  Cutaneous  diseaseSf  145, 
— ^Bateman,  on  ditto f  35. — Oreila,  des poisons,  192; 


PLATE  XVin. 

Fig.  1.  Solanum  dulcamara. 

Fig.  2.  Corolla, 

Fig.  S.  Tube  of  anthers  laid  open. 

Fig.  4.  Stamen, 

Fig.  5.  CaZt/x  and  jiisfi^. 


vv      V7. 


>''■'?■  ^1-  ■^• 


^=J^^^//h'   yC^f^^/a 


Tia  m. 


ied  to 


'oreib 


i 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  179 

wliite.  Style  filiform  ;  stigma  cm*ved  and  inclos- 
ed by  the  anthers.  Capsides  two  celled,  tui'gid, 
oval,  compressed,  ten  angled,  covered  with  the  ca- 
lyx.    Seeds  numerous,  small,  oblong,  brown. 

The  Lobelia  inflata  when  broken,  emits  a  milky 
juice.  When  chewed,  it  communicates  to  the 
mouth  a  burning,  acrimonious  sensation,  not  un- 
like the  taste  of  green  tobacco.  It  exhibits  the 
following  noticeable  ingredients  upon  chemical 
examination.  1.  An  acritl  principle.  This  is  ev- 
ident to  the  taste  in  the  tmcture,  decoction,  and 
distilled  water.  S.  Caoutchouc.  Sulphuric  ether 
dissolves  more  of  the  plant  than  alcohol,  and  ac- 
quires a  higher  colour.  The  solution  in  alcohol 
is  scarcely  rendered  turbid  by  water,  that  in  ether 
is  disturbed  by  alcohol,  and  grows  tliick  as  the 
ether  evaporates.  3.  Extractive.  'No  gummy  or 
astringent  fjualities  were  manifested  in  my  exper- 
iments. 

The  great  acrimony  of  the  leaves  and  capsules, 
combined  with  a  narcotic  property,  appears  to  be 
the  foundation  of  their  medicinal  power.  Dr. 
Cutler  informs  us,  that  if  the  leaves  be  held  for 
some  time  in  the  mouth,  they  produce  giddiness 
and  pain  in  the  head,  with  a  trembling  agitation 
of  the  whole  body,  and  at  length  bring  on  nausea 
and  vomiting.     These    effects    are    analagous   to 


180  LOBELIA  INFLATA. 

those,  which  the  chewing  or  smoking  of  tohacco 
occasions  in  persons  unaccustomed  to  its  use. 

When  swallowed  in  substance,  it  excites  very 
speedy  vomiting,  accompanied  with  distressing 
and  long  continued  sickness,  and  even  with  dan- 
gerous symptoms,  if  the  dose  he  large.  A  melan- 
choly instance  of  death,  occasioned  hy  the  use  of 
this  plant,  in  the  hands  of  a  quack,  is  detailed  in 
the  sixth  volume  of  the  Massachusetts  Reports,  in 
the  trial  of  Samuel  Thomson,  an  empiric  practising 
in  Beverly,  for  the  murder  of  Ezra  Lovett,  In 
this  trial  it  appeared,  that  the  patient,  being  con- 
fined by  a  cold,  sent  for  the  pretended  physician, 
who  gave  liim  three  powders  of  Lobelia  in  the 
course  of  half  an  hour,  each  of  wliich  vomited  liim 
violently,  and  left  him  in  a  great  perspiration 
during  the  night.  The  next  day  two  more  pow- 
ders were  administered,  each  of  which  operated 
by  vomiting  and  occasioned  great  distress.  In 
like  manner  two  other  powders  were  given  the 
subsequent  day,  leaving  the  patient  in  a  state 
of  great  prostration.  Several  days  after  this,  the 
physician  came  again,  and  finding  his  patient 
still  worse,  administered  several  more  powders, 
which  occasioned  great  distress,  and  at  length 
ceased  to  operate.  Finding  that  the  stomach  was 
not  sensible  to  the  emetic  effect  of  the  Lobelia, 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  181 

the  physician  repeated  the  dose,  and  when  the  pa- 
tient complained  of  great  distress  at  the  hreast 
and  said  he  was  dying,  the  doctor  assured  him  the 
medicine  would  soon  get  down,  or  operate  as  a  ca- 
thartic. However,  on  the  same  evening,  the  pa- 
tient lost  his  reason  and  became  convulsed,  so  that 
two  men  were  required  to  hold  him.  To  relieve 
which,  the  doctor  forced  down  two  more  of  his 
powders,  and  the  patient,  as  was  to  be  expected, 
grew  worse,  and  continued  so  until  he  expired. 

The  doctor,  who  had  thus  terminated  the  dis- 
ease and  the  patient  at  once,  was  arrested  and  put 
upon  trial  for  murder  ;  but  the  homicide  proving 
a  legitimate  one  from  the  want  of  sufficient  evi- 
dence of  malice  propense,  he  was  acquitted  and 
set  at  liberty. 

From  the  violence  of  its  effects,  and  the  dis- 
tressing nausea  which  it  occasions,  it  is  probable 
that  the  Lobelia  will  never  come  into  use  for  the 
common  purposes  of  an  emetic,  while  other  emet- 
ics can  be  obtained.  ,  It  has  however  been  found 
to  exert  a  beneficial  influence  on  particular  diseas- 
es, and  on  this  account  is  entitled  to  a  place  in 
the  Materia  Medica.  Dr.  Cutler,  and  a  number 
of  physicians  in  Essex  county  and  elsewhere,  have 
found  benefit  from  its  use  in  asthma,  some  in  dos- 
es of  a  table  spoonful  of  the  saturated  tincture, 


18S  LOBELIA  INPLATA. 

others  in  doses  of  a  teaspoonfiil.  Indeed  the  for- 
mer dose  appears  to  be  a  very  large  one,  and 
greater  than  most  stomachs  would  bear  with  im- 
punity. I  have  tried  tliis  medicine  in  several 
cases  of  asthma  with  some  advantage.  It  has 
not  however  in  general  succeeded  in  affording  re- 
lief of  the  paroxysm,  until  full  vomiting  was  pro- 
duced, which  effect,  with  me,  has  happened  after 
taking  one  or  two  teaspoonfuls. 

A  communication  from  Dr.  Cutler,  on  the  op- 
eration of  this  plant,  is  inserted  in  Dr.  Thacher's 
Dispensatory.  The  venerable  writer  having  him- 
self suffered  from  asthma  for  ten  years,  had,  dur- 
ing the  paroxysms,  resorted  to  many  medicines 
for  relief,  without  experiencing  much  benefit  from 
any.  He  was  at  length  induced  to  make  trial  of 
a  tincture,  prepared  by  liimself  from  the  Lobelia 
inflata.  " In  a  paroxysm,"  says  he,  "which  per- 
haps was  as  severe  as  I  had  ever  experienced ; 
the  difficulty  of  breathing  extreme,  and  after  it 
had  continued  for  a  considerable  time,  I  took  a  ta- 
ble spoonful.  In  three  or  four  minutes  my  breath- 
ing was  as  free  as  it  ever  was,  but  I  felt  no  nau- 
sea at  the  stomach.  In  ten  minutes  I  took  anoth- 
er spoonful,  which  occasioned  sickness.  After 
ten  minutes  I  took  a  thu'd,  which  produced  sensi- 
ble effects  upon  the  coats  of  the  stomach,  and  a 


/ 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  183 

very  little  moderate  puking^  and  a  kind  of  prickly 
sensation  through  the  whole  system,  even  to  the 
extremities  of  the  fingers  and  toes.  But  all 
these  sensations  very  soon  subsided,  and  a  vigour 
seemed  to  be  restored  to  the  constitution,  which  I 
had  not  experienced  for  years.  I  have  not  since 
had  a  paroxysm,  and  only  a  few  times  some  small 
symptoms  of  asthma.  Besides  the  violent  at- 
tacks, I  had  scarcely  passed  a  night  without  more 
or  less  of  it,  and  often  so  as  not  to  be  able  to  lie  in 
bed.  Since  that  time  I  have  enjoyed  as  good 
health,  as  perhaps  before  the  first  attack." 

Dr.  Cutler  considers  his  disease  to  be  what 
Dr.  Bree  in  his  "  Practical  inquiries  on  disorder- 
ed respiration"  calls  the  first  species,  "  an  asthma 
from  pulmonic  iiTitation  of  effused  serum." 

Dr.  Randall  informs  me,  that  he  has  given  the 
Lobelia  to  many  persons  of  different  ages  suffer- 
ing from  asthma  and  catarrh,  and  with  considera- 
ble variation  in  the  form  and  degree  of  the  dose. 
In  asthma  he  finds  it  as  successful  as  any  article 
he  has  tried.  When  given  in  doses  of  a  drachm 
of  the  saturated  tincture,  and  two  or  three  times 
repeated  at  convenient  intervals  ;  also  in  the  form 
of  other  preparations  of  similar  strength,  he  has 
found  it  usually  to  remove  the   paroxysm   in   a 

short   time,    and   to   restore   the   patient   to   qui- 

24 


184  LOBELIA  INFLATA. 

etude  and  case.  In  catarrh,  when  given  in 
small  doses  and  frequently  repeated,  it  has  op- 
erated as  a  sure  and  speedy  expectorant,  pro- 
ducin,^  effects  in  then'  most  important  character, 
very  similar  to  those  of  antimony  and  squills. 
Dr.  Randall  has  not  observed  any  narcotic  effect 
to  ensue  from  moderate  doses,  nor  found  it  to  pro- 
duce uTitation  of  the  coats  of  the  bladder,  as  has 
been  suggested  by  some  practitioners.  In  his 
hands  it  has  not  produced  any  more  unpleasant 
consequence  than  frequent  nausea,  and  occasional 
emesis,  with  a  copious  flow  from  the  glands  of  the 
mouth. 

Dr.  Bradstreet  of  Newburyport  acquaints  me, 
that  besides  asthmatic  cases,  he  has  given  the  sat- 
urated tincture  in  two  or  three  instances  of  dys- 
pepsia, also  in  some  cases  of  a  rheumatic  nature 
with  beneficial  consequences. 

He  considers  its  sensible  effects  to  be  very 
like  those  of  common  tobacco,  but  its  medicinal 
action  moi*e  speedy  and  difilisible,  and  of  shorter 
duration.  He  thmks  that  it  affects  those  accus- 
tomed to  the  use  of  tobacco  as  readily  as  others. 

The  Lobelia  has  been  recommended  as  a  rem- 
edy in  hooping  cough  and  croup.  In  the  former 
of  these  complaints,  I  can  say  nothing  of  its  use 
from  experience,  but  in  the  latter  disease  I  am 


INDIAN  TOBACCO.  180 

persuaded,  it  aifords  no  benefit,  having  seen  it 
largely  tried  b j  different  practitioners  in  a  number 
of  fatal  cases,  where  it  only  produced  a  distress- 
ing nausea,  without,  in  any  degree,  facilitating  the 
respiration,  or  relieving  the  disease. 

The  active  properties  of  the  Lobelia  are  readi- 
ly extracted  both  by  water  and  alcohol.  The  tinc- 
ture however  is  most  easily  kept,  and  is  the  most 
convenient  form  for  exhibition.  The  Essex  dis- 
trict medical  society  have  recommended  a  formu- 
la  for  this  composition,  which  dii'ects  two  ounces 
of  the  dried  plant  to  be  digested  in  a  pint  of  di- 
luted alcohol.  Of  this  tincture,  a  teaspoonful  giv- 
en to  an  adult,  will  generally  produce  nausea,  and 
sometimes  vomiting.  In  certain  instances  how- 
ever, much  larger  doses  have  been  given,  without 
producing  any  other  effect  than  a  flow  of  saliva. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Lobelia  inflata,  Lijf.  Sp.  pi. — Act.  Vjjsal  1741,  p.  23,  t  1.— 
Gronovius,  Virg.  134.— Wiild.  Sp,plA.  946.— Michaux,  ii, 
142. — PuESH,  ii.  448. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Ctjtlee,  Mem.  Jimer.  Jlcad.  i.  484 Schoepf,  128. — Bart, 

CoL   36,    56.— Thacher,   Disp.    Q67,— Massachusetts   Reports^ 
vol,  vi. 


186  LOBELIA  INFLATA. 

PLATE  XIX. 

Fig.  1.  Lobelia  injlata. 

Fig.  2.  Corolla  with  the  stamens  projecting  from  the  cleft  in  the 
upper  side. 

Fig.  5.  Capside  cut  across. 


ri^^jr 


'  ',.<flf-etfi 


7' 


>f/f>^'^. 


lalities,  hv 


i^i   FEB. 


HW-^ 


:mi' 


■w 


SWEET  SCENTED  GOLDEN  ROD.       189 

supported  by  a  small  leaf.  These  branches  or 
peduncles  are  very  slender  and  rigid,  each  giving 
off  a  row  of  ascending,  downy  pedicels,  with  small, 
linear  bractes  at  their  bases.  Scales  of  the  calyx 
oblong,  acute,  smooth,  or  slightly  pubescent,  the 
lower  ones  shorter  and  closely  imbricating  the 
rest.  Florets  of  the  ray  few,  with  oblong,  obtuse, 
ligules.  Those  of  the  disc  funnel  shaped,  with 
acute  segments.  Down  simple  to  the  naked  eye, 
feathery  under  the  microscope.     Seeds  oblong. 

This  plant  is  the  Solidago  odora  of  Muhlen- 
berg, and  agrees  with  the  character  of  Alton. 
The  Solidago  odora  of  Michaux  is  possibly  a  differ- 
ent species.  Willdenow's  plant  was  undoubtedly 
different.  The  folia  pmicticulosa,  which  consti- 
tutes so  distinct  a  mark  in  this  species,  I  have 
not  seen  noticed  by  any  botanist. 

The  leaves  of  the  Solidao:o  otlora  have  a  delio'lit- 
fully  fragrant  odour,  partaking  of  that  of  anise  and 
sassafras,  but  different  from  either.  When  sub- 
jected to  distillation,  a  volatile  oil,  possessing  the 
taste  and  aroma  of  the  plant  in  a  high  degree,  col- 
lects in  the  receiver.  This  oil  apparently  has  its 
residence  in  the  transparent  cells,  which  consti- 
tute the  dotting  of  the  leaves,  for  the  root  is  whol- 
ly destitute  of  the  peculiar  fragrance  of  the  herb, 
and  has  rather  a  nauseous  taste.     This  is  contra- 


190  SOLID  AGO   ODORA. 

ry  to  the  remark  of  Willdenow,  who  informs  us  that 
the  root  is  the  fragrant  part  possessing  the  scent 
of  Geum  urbanum. 

As  the  volatile  oil  appears  to  possess  all  the 
medicinal  v  alue  of  this  plant,  I  haye  not  proseciit- 
ed  its  chemical  investigation  any  farther. 

The  claims  of  the  Solidago  to  stand  as  an  ar- 
ticle of  the  Materia  Medica  are  of  a  humble,  but 
not  despicable  kind.  We  import  and  consume 
many  foreign  drugs  which  possess  no  virtue  be- 
yond that  of  being  aromatic,  pleasant  to  the  taste, 
gently  stimulant,  diaphoretic  and  carminative. 
All  these  properties  the  Golden  rod  seems  fully  to 
possess.  An  essence  macle  by  dissolving  the  es- 
sential oil  in  proof  spirit,  is  used  in  the  eastern 
states  as  a  remedy  in  complaints,  arising  from  flat- 
ulence, and  as  a  vehicle  for  unpleasant  medicines 
of  various  kinds.  I  have  employed  it  to  allay 
vomiting,  and  to  relieve  spasmodic  pains  in  the 
stomach  of  the  milder  kind,  with  satisfactory  suc- 
cess. From  its  pleasant  flavour,  it  serves  to  cover 
the  taste  of  laudanum,  castor  oil,  and  other  med- 
icines, whose  disagreeable  taste  causes  them  to 
be  rejected  by  delicate  and  irritable  stomachs. 

Mr.  Pursh  inforins  us,  that  this  plant  when 
dried,  is  used  in  some  parts  of  the  United  States  as 
an  agreeable  substitute  for  tea.     He  further  states. 


GOLDEN  ROD.  191 

that  it  has  for  some  time  been  an  article  of  ex- 
portation to  China,  where  it  fetches  a  liigh  price. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Solidago  odora,  Aiton,  Eort.  Keiv.  iii.  214. — Puesh,  ii.  539. 
— Virga  Aurea  Americana,  Tarraconis  facie  et  sapore,  panicu- 
la  speciosissima  ?  TiaUHewet,  Mm,  389?  t.  116,/,  6. 

PLATE  XX. 

Fig.  1.  Solida  odora. 
Fig.  2.  Ajiower  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  AJloret  of  the  ray. 
Fig.  4.  AJloretof  the  disc. 


25 


NOTES. 


jMost  European  writers  seem  to  considei*  the  Datura  stra- 
monium as  a  native  of  America.  In  Miller's  Dictionary  by 
Martyn,  the  editor  says,  «  That  it  is  a  native  of  America,  we 
have  the  most  undoubted  proofs,  for  in  earth  brought  with 
plants  from  various  paiis  of  that  extensive  country,  we  are  sure 
to  have  the  Tliorn  apple  come  up.  Kalm  says,  that  it  grows 
about  all  the  villages,  and  that  this  and  the  Phytolacca  are  the 
worst  weeds  there.  Our  old  writers  call  it  Thorny  Apples  of 
Peru." 

This  evidence  however  is  by  no  means  sufficient.  The  plant 
appears  in  earth  and  ballast,  carried  from  either  continent  alike. 
The  name  Apple  of  Peru  has  also  been  applied  to  Datura  metel, 
a  plant  of  Africa  and  the  East  Indies. 

JVofe  B. 

In  the  Catalogue  of  plants  in  the  Botanic  garden  at  Calcutta, 
published  in  1814,  a  species  is  inserted  by  the  name  of  Datura 
Tatula,  said  to  be  a  native  of  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  TMs  is 
probably  different  from  the  Datura  Tatula  of  Linn^us. 

JS^ote  C. 

<'  The  Jamestown  weed,  (which  resembles  the  thorny  apples  of 
Peru,  and  I  take  it  to  be  the  plant  so  called,)  is  supposed  to  be 
one  of  the  greatest  coolers  in  the  world.  This  being  an  early 
plant,  was  gathered  very  young  for  a  boiled  sallad,  by  some  of 
the  soldiers  sent  thither  to  quell  the  rebellion  of  Bacon  ;  and 
some  of  them  ate  plentifully  of  it,  the  effect  of  which  was  a  very 


NOTES.  193 

pleasant  comedy,  for  they  turned  natural  fools  upon  it  for  several 
days.  One  would  blow  up  a  feather  in  the  air,  another  would 
dart  straws  at  it  with  much  fury ;  another  stark  naked  was  sit- 
ting up  in  a  corner  like  a  monkey,  grinning,  and  making  mows 
at  them ;  a  fourth  would  fondly  kiss  and  paw  his  companions, 
and  sneer  in  their  faces  with  a  countenance  more  antic,  than  any 
in  a  Dutch  droll.  In  this  frantic  condition  they  were  confined, 
lest,  in  their  folly,  they  should  destroy  themselves.  A  thousand 
simple  tricks  tliey  played,  and  after  eleven  days  returned  to 
themselves  again,  not  remembering  any  thing  that  had  passed." 

Beverly's  History  of  Virginia,  p.  121. 

JTote  B, 

«f  De  Cuechyliztomatl,  sen  Tomatl  sonalis. 

Genus  est  Solani  Tonchiclii  forma  et  viribus  simile,  sed 
foliis  paulisper  undulatts,  et  fructu  acinoso  racematimque  depen- 
dente,  kc"    Hernandexif  ii.  12. 

J^ote  E, 

<'  I  am  heartily  glad  to  hear  more  instances  of  the  success  of 
the  Poke  weed  in  the  cure  of  cancer.  You  will  deserve  highly  of 
mankind  for  the  communication.  But  I  find  in  Boston  they  are 
at  a  loss  to  know  the  right  plant,  some  asserting  it  is  what  they 
call  Mechoacan,  others  other  things.  In  one  of  their  late  pa- 
pers it  is  publicly  requested  that  a  perfect  decription  may  be  giv- 
en of  the  plant,  its  places  of  growth,  &c.  I  have  mislaid  the  pa- 
per, or  would  send  it  to  you.  I  thought  you  had  described  it 
pretty  fully."    Letter  from  Dr.  Franklin  to  Br.  Colden, 

"  I  apprehend  that  our  poke- weed  is  what  botanists  term 
Phytolacca.  This  plant  bears  berries  as  large  as  peas.  The 
skin  is  black,  but  it  contains  a  crimson  juice.  It  is  this  juice 
thickened  by  evaporation  in  the  sun  which  was  employed.  It 
caused  great  pain,  bui  some  persons  were  said  to  have  been 
cured,    I  am  not  quite  certain  of  the  facts  ^  all  that  I  know  is 


194^  NOTES. 

that  Dr.  Colden  had  a  good  opinion  of  the  remedy."    Letter 
from  Dr.  Franklin  to  M.  Dubourg. 

Xote  F. 

Liiinseus,  in  his  Flora  Laponica,  tells  us  that  the  roots  of 
Calla  palustris,  although  acrid  and  caustic  in  the  highest  degree, 
fignis  Jirme  instaVfJ  are  made  into  a  kind  of  bread  in  high  esti- 
mation, called  Missebroed.  This  is  performed  by  drying  and 
grinding  the  roots,  afterwards  boiling  and  macerating  them  un- 
til they  ai'e  deprived  of  acrimony,  when  they  are  baked  like  other 
farinaceous  substances  into  bread. 

The  recent  juice  of  the  Jatropha  manihot,  or  Cassava  tree  of 
the  West  Indies,  is  highly  poisonous.  The  deleterious  princi- 
ple however  resides  in  a  volatile  portion,  which  is  dissipated  by 
heat.  The  remaining  substance  of  the  root  is  used  by  the  in- 
habitants for  bread,  as  a  material  for  a  kind  of  soup,  and  as  the 
basis  of  a  fermented  liquor. 

JS^ote  G. 

The  following  is  Kgempfer's  description  taken  from  his  Amoe- 
iiitates  Exoticse,  p.  791.  His  accompanying  figure  resembles  the 
American  Rhus  vernix,  except,  that  the  end  of  the  branch  and 
bud  are  larger  in  proportion  than  with  us. 

«  8it%f  vel.  SitzdsjUf  i.  e.  SitXi  planta,  vulgo  Urus  seu  Uiiis  no 
Jii,  Arbor  vernicifera  legitima,  folio  pinnato  Juglandis,  fructu 
racemoso  ciceris  facie. 

"  Arbor  paucis  ramis  brachiata,  salicis  ad  altitudinem  luxuri- 
ose  exsurgit.  Cortice  donatur  incano,  ex  verruculis  scabro,  facile 
abscedente ;  ligno  saligneo  fragillimo  ,•  medulla  copiosa,  ligno 
adnata  i  Surculis  longis  crassis  in  extreraitate  inordinate  foliosis. 
Folium  est  impaiiter  pennatum,  spithamale  vel  longius,  Juglandis 
folio  semulum,  costa  tereti,  leviter  lanuginosa ;  quara  a  semipal- 
mari  nuditate  stipant  lobi  sive  folia  simplicia,  pediculo  perbrevi 
nixa,  tenuia,  plana,  ovata,  trium  vel  quatuor  unciarum  longitu- 


NOTES.  195 

dinis,  basi  insequaliter  rotunda,  mucrone  brevi  angusto,  margine 
integro,  suprema  facie  obscure  viridi,  Isevi,  et  ex  nervis  lacunosa, 
dorso  incano  et  molliter  lanuginoso.  Nervus  mediiis  in  mucro- 
nem  terminans  subinde  miiltos  a  latere  demittit  nervos  minores, 
eitra  marginem  deficientes.  Sapor  folio  sylvestris  inest,  cum 
sensibili  calore ;  humor  afFrictus  extemplo  chartam  ferrugineo 
colore  imbuit.  In  surculis  quibusdam  ex  foliorum  axillis  sin- 
guli  surgunt  Racemi  laxe  ramosi,  palmares,  tenues,  qui,  petiolis 
in  calyculos  rotundos  desinentibus,  Fhsculos  continent  pumilos, 
et  citra  Coriandri  seminis  magnitudinem  radiantes,  in  luteum 
lierbaceos,  pentapetalos,  petalis  carnosis  noniiihil  oblongis  et 
repandis ,-  staminibus  ad  petalorum  interstitia  singulis,  apicatis, 
brevissimis,  stylo  perbrevi  tricipite,  floris  turbini  insidente. 
Ordorem  spirant  dulcera,  Aurantio  llori  affinem  et  pergratum. 
JFrudus  flosculura  excipit  gibbosus,  utcumque  in  rhomboidis  figu- 
ram  compressus,  bifidus,  facie  ac  magnitudine  ciceris,  mem- 
branula  tenui  raicante  vestitus,  per  maturitatem  durissimus  et 
obsoleti  coloris. 

^*  Cortex  arboris  cultro  crenatus  lacteum  fundit  lentorem, 
liumore  crystallino  (ex  aliis  diictibus  stillante)  permixtum,  qui 
ad  aeris  coiitactum  nigrescit.  Eimdem  surculi  divulsi,  foliorum 
pediculi,  et  nervi  produnt,  nuUius  gustabilis  qualitatis  partici- 
pem,  nisi  califacientis  sine  acredine.  Venenatos  tamen  spiritus 
hsec  arbor  exhalare  dicitin%  vehementes  adeo,  ut  pueris  circa 
eandem  conimorautibus  exanthemata  in  corpore  pariant :  qualia 
etiam  lignum  tractantes  alii  (non  omnes)  experiuntur.  Collectio 
Urusj,  sive  Vernicis,  ut  instituatur,  caudices  prsecipue  triennes, 
paucis  crenis  vulnerandfs  sunt,  ex  quibus  stillans  liquor  subinde 
excipitur,  iterata  in  reccnte  loco  sectione,  donee  exsucci  marces- 
eant.  Emulsi  atquc  omni  succo  orbati,  illico  amputandi  sunt ; 
sic  nova  e  radice  provenit  soboles,  quse,  triennis  facta,  coUectioni 
denuo  subjicitur/'        ^        *        * 

<'  Vernix  nativavix  prseparatione  indiget,  Japonica  per  dupli- 
catam  chartam  siibtilissimam,  telee  aranearum  pene  similem,  et 


196  NOTES. 

earn  in  rem  singulariter  constructara  docta  ey^et^tjTt  torqueii 
solet,  ut  a  particulis  heterogeneis  et  crassioribus  mundetur; 
mundatse  pauxillum  admiscetur  (centissima  fere  pars)  olei  Toi 
dicti  ex  finictu  arboris  Mri,  Sic  vasibus  ligneis  iudita  per  Japo* 
niam  venalis  traiisvehitur." 

J\*ote  H. 

The  following  account  of  the  death  of  Socrates  is  translated 
from  the  Phcedon  of  Plato. 

And  Crito  hearing  this  gave  the  sign  to  the  boy  who  stood 
near.  And  the  boy  departing  after  some  time  returned  bringing 
with  him  the  man,  who  was  to  administer  the  poison,  who 
brought  it  ready  bruised  in  a  cup.  And  Socrates  beholding  the 
man,  said,  *<  Good  friend,  come  hither,  you  are  experienced  in 
these  affairs, — What  is  to  be  done  ?"  **  Nothing,"  replied  the 
man,  "  only  when  you  have  drank  the  poison,  you  are  to  walk 
about  until  a  heaviness  takes  place  in  your  legs.  Then  lie  down. 
This  is  all  you  have  to  do."  At  the  same  time  he  presented  him 
the  cup.  Socrates  received  it  from  him  with  great  calmness, 
without  fear  or  change  of  countenance,  and  regarding  the  man 
with  his  usual  stern  aspect,  he  asked,  "  What  say  you  of  this 
potion  ?  Is  it  lawful  to  sprinkle  any  portion  of  it  on  the  earth 
as  a  libation,  or  not  I"  "  We  only  bruise,"  said  the  man,  "  as 
much  as  is  barely  sufficient  for  the  purpose."  "  I  understand 
you,"  said  Socrates,  « but  it  is  certainly  lawful  and  proper  to 
pray  the  gods  that  my  departure  from  hence  may  be  prosperous 
and  happy,  which  I  indeed  beseech  them  to  grant."  So  saying, 
he  carried  the  cup  to  his  mouth  and  drank  it  with  great  prompt- 
ness and  facility. 

Thus  far  most  of  us  had  been  able  to  refrain  from  weeping. 
But  when  we  saw  that  he  was  drinking  and  actually  had  drunk 
the  poison,  we  could  no  longer  restrain  our  tears.  And  from  me 
they  broke  forth  with  such  violence,  that  I  covered  my  face  and 
deplored  my  wretchedness.  I  did  not  weep  for  his  fate,  so  much. 


NOTES.  197 

as  for  the  loss  of  a  friend  and  benefactor,  which  I  was  about  to 
sustain.  But  Crito  unable  to  restrain  his  tears  was  compelled 
to  rise.  And  Apollodorus,  who  had  been  incessantly  weeping, 
now  broke  forth  into  loud  lamentations,  which  infected  all  who 
were  present  except  Socrates.  But,  he  observing  us,  exclaimed, 
<«  What  is  it  you  do,  my  excellent  friends  ?  I  have  sent  away  the 
women  that  they  might  not  betray  such  weakness.  I  have  heard 
that  it  is  our  duty  to  die  cheerfully  and  with  expressions  of  joy 
and  praise.  Be  silent  therefore,  and  let  your  fortitude  be  seen." 
At  this  address  we  blushed  and  suppressed  our  tears.  But  So- 
crates, after  walking  about,  now  told  us  that  his  legs  were  begin- 
ning to  grow  heavy,  and  immediately  laid  down,  for  so  he  had 
been  ordered.  At  the  same  time  the  man  who  had  given  Mm 
the  poison,  examined  his  feet  and  legs,  touching  them  at  inter- 
vals. At  length  he  pressed  violently  upon  his  foot,  and  asked 
if  he  felt  it.  To  which  Socrates  replied,  that  he  did  not. 
The  man  then  pressed  his  legs  and  so  on,  shewing  us  that  he 
was  becoming  cold  and  stiff.  And  Socrates  feeling  of  himself 
assured  us,  that  when  the  effects  had  ascended  to  his  heart  he 
should  then  be  gone.  And  now  tlie  middle  of  his  body  growing 
cold,  he  threw  aside  his  clothes  and  spoke  for  the  last  time, 
**  Crito,  we  owe  the  sacrifice  of  a  cock  to  JEsculapius.  Dis- 
charge this  and  neglect  it  not."  "  It  shall  be  done,  said  Crito  ; 
have  you  any  thing  else  to  say  ?"  He  made  no  reply,  but  a  mo- 
ment after  moved,  and  his  eyes  became  fixed.  And  Crito  seeing 
this,  closed  his  eyelids  and  mouth. 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  FIRST  VOLUME, 


Datura  stramonium, 
Eupatorium  perfoliatumf 
Phytolacca  decandra, 
Arum  tnphyllum, 
Coptis  trifolia. 
Arbutus  uva  ursi, 
Sanguinaria  canadensis. 
Geranium  maculatum, 
Triosteum  perfoliatum, 
Itliux  vernix, 
Conium  maculatum, 
Cicuta  macidata, 
Kalmia  latifolia, 
Spigelia  marilandicaf 
Asarum  canadense, 
Iris  'versicolor, 
Hyoscyamus  niger, 
Solanum  dulcamara, 
Lobelia  injlata, 
Solidago  odora, 
M)tes, 


Thorn  apple,  page  17 

Thorough  wort,  33 

Poke,  39 

Dragon  root,  52 

Gold  thread,  60 

Bearberry,  66 

Blood  root,  75 

Craneshill,  84 

Fever  root,  90 

Poison  sumach,  96 

Hemlock,  113 

American  hemlock,  125 

Mountain  laurel,  133 

Carolina  pinkroot,  142 

Wild  Ginger,  149 

Blue  flag,  155 

Henbane,  161 

Bitter  sweet,  169 

Indian  tobacco,  177 
Sweet  scented  Golden  rod,    187 

192 


ADVERTISEMENT. 

Upon  presenting  to  the  public  the  portion  of  this  work,  which 
completes  one  half  of  his  labours,  the  author  of  the  American 
Medical  Botany  feels  himself  bound  to  offer  some  report  of  the 
progress  and  prospects  of  his  undertaking. 

The  plan  of  this  work  was  formed  and  announced  at  a  time 
when  such  a  subject  was  wholly  novel,  and  when  coloured  bo- 
tanical engravings,  from  the  difficulty  and  expense  of  their  exe- 
cution, were  almost  unknown  in  this  country.  It  was  endeav- 
oured that  the  plan  should  be  such  as  in  some  degree  to  insure, 
what  both  authors  and  their  friends  should  desire,  extensive  cir- 
culation and  permanent  utility.  An  edition  of  a  thousand  copies 
was  printed,  and  that  the  work  miglit  be  generally  accessible, 
the  price  was  fixed  at  a  lower  rate,  in  proportion  to  the  number 
of  plates,  than  works  of  the  kind  have  ever  been  placed  at  in  this 
country;  a  rate  which  the  probable  sale  of  the  whole  edition 
could  alone  justify.  As  permanent  utility  was  esteemed  of  more 
importance  than  ephemeral  success,  the  work  has  not  been  hur- 
ried in  any  stage  of  its  execution,  even  though  some  temporary 
advantages  might  have  been  obtained  by  its  earlier  appearance. 
The  author  has  not  willingly  adopted  the  opinions  of  others  in  bot- 
any or  medicine  without  examination,  and  has  thought  no  delay  in- 
jurious which  might  lead  to  the  establishment  of  truth  or  the  de- 
tection of  error.  He  has  been  desirous,  in  adding  the  results  of 
his  own  experience,  that  the  book  should  have,  in  some  degree  at 


VI  ADVERTISEMENT. 

least,  the  character  of  an  original  work,  rather  than  of  a  compi- 
lation ;  at  the  same  time  that  it  should  present  a  fair  view  of 
what  is  known  on  the  subjects  of  which  it  treats.  The  figures  of 
the  plants  have,  in  every  instance,  been  made  from  original 
drawings,  which  were  executed  by  himself,  with  the  exception  of 
two  or  three  presented  by  his  friends.  Tlie  style  of  engraving 
is  wholly  new  in  this  country,  and  is  one  which  has  been  suc- 
cessfully attempted  only  by  the  first  artists  in  France. 

It  gives  him  pleasure  to  state,  that  the  reception  of  the  work, 
in  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  has  exceeded  his  anticipations, 
that  the  subscription  is  already  more  than  sufficient  to  defray 
the  expense  of  publishing,  and  that  its  regular  increase  renders 
it  probable  that  the  whole  edition  will  be  taken  up  at  an  early 
period. 

He  avails  himself  of  this  occasion  to  return  his  acknowledg- 
ments to  those  correspondents  who  have  obligingly  assisted  him 
by  the  communication  of  specimens  for  the  work,  and  of  the  re- 
sults of  their  own  researches  and  experience.  Particularly  he 
would  express  this  remembrance  to  Zaccheus  Coixins  Esq.  of 
Philadelphia,  a  gentleman  whose  active  kindness  has  repeatedly 
supplied  his  botanical  necessities  ;  and  whose  extensive  erudition 
has  enabled  him  to  afford  counsel,  which  would  not  have  been 
sought  at  a  less  respectable  source.  To  Professor  Ives  of  New 
Haven,  a  zealous  and  inteUigent  cultivator  of  the  American  Ma- 
teria Medica,  he  would  express  the  obligations  derived  from  his 
communications  and  correspondence.  It  would  be  unjust  to  for- 
get that  many  medicinal  plants  of  the  Southern  States,  with  ob- 
servations on  their  properties,  were  furnished  expressly  for  this 
work,  by  the  late  Dr.  James  Macbkide  of  Charleston,  S.  C.  a 


4% 


ADVERTISEMENT.  VIL 

physician  and  a  botanist,  whose  premature  dcatli  has  terminated  a 
career  of  honourable  usefulness  and  of  active,  liberal  and  efficient 
prosecution  of  science.  His  friends  cannot  remember  without  re- 
gret a  man,  who  had  the  rare  quality  of  being  learned  without 
ostentation,  who  was  ambitious  of  usefulness  more  than  of  fame, 

and  who  sought  rather  to  be  valuable  to  others  than  just  to  him- 
self. 


As  the  materials  for  the  rest  of  the  American  Medical  Bota- 
ny are  now  principally  collected,  and  most  of  the  drawings 
finished ;  the  remaining  numbers  will  be  issued  with  as  much 
promptness  and  regularity,  as  is  consistent  with  their  faithful 
execution. 


PREFACE 

TO   THE    SECOND   VOLUME. 

As  frequent  use  is  made  in  these  pages  of 
observations  drawn  from  the  auxiliary  sciences,  as 
affording  some  light  on  the  medicinal  properties  of 
plants,  it  may  be  proper  to  examine  how  far  tes- 
timony of  this  kind  is  entitled  to  receive  credit  in 
our  inquiries  and  examinations. 

There  can  be  no  question,  that  the  actual  op- 
eration of  medicines  upon  the  human  system, 
gathered  from  positive  experience,  is,  in  the  pres- 
ent state  of  our  knowledge,  the  only  criterion  by 
which  we  can  pronounce,  with  universal  certainty, 
on  their  properties.  There  are  nevertheless 
many  things  to  be  learnt  from  chemical  analysis, 
sensible  qualities,  and  botanical  affinity,  which 
may  afford  us,  in  some  instances  certainty,  and  in 
most  others  presumptive  evidence  of  the  medicinal 
characters  of  vegetables.  The  correspondence 
in  these  respects  is  frequently  so  striking,  that 
we  can  hardly  resist  the  belief,  that  an  entire  liar= 
mony  of  properties  exists,  which,  if  we  are  unable 


X/  PREFACE. 

fiiJlv  to  comprehend,  it  is  rather  o'^inpf  to  the  im- 
perfectioQ  of  science,  than  to  the  iiTeGTularitv  of 
nature. 

A  few  illustrations  of  this  point,  taken  from 
general  facts  already  ascertained,  will  place  the 
suhject  in  a  clearer  li|;cht. 

The  chemical  suhstances.  known  hr  the  names 
of  Gum  iMuciis  and  Fascula.  are  constantly  emol- 
lient, demulcent  and  nutritious.  They  manifest 
these  qualities  even  when  extracted  from  acrid 
and  poisonous  vegetables,  as  in  Arum;  Calla.  and 
Jatropha. 

Sugar  is  nutritious  and  demulcent.  T^Tien 
subjected  to  a  spontaneous  chemical  chanjje  by 
the  vinous  fermentation,  it  is  universally  a  stroma 
diffusible  stimulus. 

Fi-xed  oils  are  emollient  and  laxative.  Also 
nutritious. 

Volatile  oils  on  the  contrary  are  acrid,  stimu- 
latinjj.  heatin^s:.  and  antispasmodic. 

Tannin  and  the  Gallic  acid  are  uniformly  an- 
tiseptic andpowerfullv  a^trinj;(ent. 

The  ^icetous.  Citric.  Tartaric  and  similar  veg- 
etable acids  are  refrigerant  and  antiseptic. 

Bitter  Extractive  substances  are  u-ually  tonic. 

JResins.  which  [ire  bitter  and  acrid,  are  coni- 
raonlv  cathartic. 


PREFACE.  XI 

Emetine,  as  separated  by  Pelletier  and  Magen- 
die,  is  powerfully  emetic. 

Morphiiim,  obtained  by  Sertnrner,  is  a  vei-y 
strong  narcotic. 

The  foregoing  are  some  of  the  examples,  which 
the  present  state  of  Chemistry  allows  us  to  ob- 
serve of  affinity  between  chemical  and  medicinal 
characters.  With  a  few  exceptions  they  will  be 
found  to  be  strictly  true.  Yet  the  analysis  of  vege- 
tables is  at  present  but  imperfectly  known,  and  an 
extended  investigation  is  continually  bringing  new 
principles  to  light.  We  can  hardly  expect  that  the 
business  of  generalization  should  be  attempted 
with  complete  success,  until  tlie  constituent  facts 
are  better  understood.  From  what  we  already 
know,  however,  it  is  not  chimerical  to  predict, 
that  if  the  chemistry  of  vegetables  were  as  per- 
fectly known  in  all  its  parts,  as  in  those  which  we 
have  detailed ;  their  medicinal  properties  might 
be  inferred,  with  at  least  as  great  certainty,  as 
that  which  now  attends  most  inferences  in  the 
conjectural  science  of  medicine. 

In  regard  to  the  botanical  affinities  of  plants, 
as  affording  evidence  of  their  medicinal  powers, 
much  has  been  said  and  written.  Petiver,  Hoff- 
man, Linnaeus,  Hasselqnist,  and  recently  the 
learned  Professor  Decandolle  have  bestowed  much 


XU  PREFACE. 

investigation  on  tliis  subject.  It  is  regarded  as  a 
desideratum  by  all,  and  as  the  consummation  of 
botanical  science  by  many,  tliat  plants  should  be 
so  arranged,  as  that  then*  assemblages  should 
agree,  not  only  in  external  forms,  but  in  internal 
qualities  and  operative  powers.  Certain  general 
agreements  of  this  kind  evidently  prevail  through- 
out nature  ;  yet  they  are  so  varied,  and  subject  to 
so  many  exceptions,  that  it  is  difficult  to  establish 
them  by  general  scientific  descriptions,  and  when 
they  are  rendered  too  minute  they  seem  to  lose 
much  of  their  importance.  It  is  perhaps  as  easy 
to  know  the  properties  of  plants  from  theu*  exter- 
nal habit,  as  to  understand  the  characters  of  man- 
kind from  their  physiognomy.  Accurate  obser- 
vers know  more  than  they  can  communicate  the 
means  of  knowing  to  others,  yet  the  most  accu- 
rate are  liable  to  be  mistaken.  Many  vegetables 
of  the  closest  affinity  and  resemblance,  even  spe- 
cies of  the  same  genus,  differ  wholly  from  each 
other  in  their  effects.  Witness  the  species  of 
Cucumis,  Convolvulus,  and  Solanum,  some  of 
which  are  salutary,  and  others  highly  deleteri- 
ous. Kevertheless  there  are  many  general  truths, 
or  at  least  general  probabilities,  by  which  every 
one  would  be  influenced,  and  w  hich  have  so  much 
importance,  that   they   will  never  be   forgotten. 


PREFACE.  Xlli 

No  botanist,  even  if  in  danger  of  starving  in  a 
wilderness,  would  indulge  liis  hunger  on  a  root  or 
fruit  taken  from  an  unknown  plant  of  the  nat- 
ural order  Luridce,  of  the  Multisiliquce,  or  the  um- 
belliferous aquatics.  On  the  contrary,  he  would 
not  feel  a  moment's  hesitation  in  regard  to  any  of 
the  Gramina,  the  fruit  of  the  Pomacew,  and  several 
other  natural  families  of  plants,  which  are  known 
to  be  uniformly  innocent  in  their  effects. 

The  sensible  properties  of  plants  afford  another 
clue  to  their  influence  on  the  human  system.  It 
is  true,  that  observations  derived  from  this  source 
will  not  serve  us  in  forming  very  minute  distinc- 
tions. They  are,  however,  almost  always  adequate 
in  vegetable  productions,  to  enable  us  to  distin- 
guish what  is  innocent  and  salubrious,  from  what 
is  noxious  and  virulent.  The  brute  creation  de- 
pend wholly  upon  the  powers  of  sense  in  selecting 
their  food,  and  this  reliance  does  not  often  betray 
them.  In  regard  to  mankind  it  almost  uniformly 
happens,  that  what  is  sweet,  delicious,  or  aromat- 
ic, proves  nutritive  or  salutary ;  while  on  the  oth- 
er hand,  vegetable  poisons  are  nauseous,  acrid, 
and  disgusting.  It  has  been  observed,  that  it 
would  have  been  a  sort  of  treachery  in  nature  to 
have  made  it  otherwise.  Considering  the  univer- 
sal  dissemination   of  poisonous   plants,  and  the 


XVI  PREFACE. 

number  of  them,  which  frequent  the  vicinity  of 
human  habitations,  this  arrangement  of  Provi- 
dence, by  making  ungrateful  what  is  dangerous, 
has  furnished  ahnost  the  only  safeguard  from 
harm,  to  the  inexperienced  and  unwary. 

These  remarks  have  been  offered  on  account 
of  an  impression  which  many  persons  entertain, 
that  collateral  evidences  of  the  characters  of  plants 
are  worthless  and  undeserving  of  attention.  Even 
if  the  community  were  composed  exclusively  of 
physicians,  such  an  opinion  could  not  be  wholly 
correct.  Every  one  may  be  called  on  to  form 
hasty  decisions  on  subjects  where  his  experience 
is  deficient,  and  where  an  acquaintance  with  aux- 
iliary facts  might  lead  him  to  a  correct  issue.  It 
is  not  onl}^  curious  and  instructive  to  perceive  the 
harmonies  of  nature,  but  to  every  inquirer  among 
her  works  it  must  be  practically  useful.  It  can 
no  where  be  more  useful,  or  more  deserving  of 
study,  than  in  a  new  country,  where  the  face  of 
nature  presents  an  ungathered  harvest,  and  where 
every  clue  to  useful  discovery  derives  importance 
from  its  influence  and  tendency. 


ih' 


4  3  &  7 


d      9 


20      J2    -?5 


m 


11 


iutlie 


WINTEU  GREEN.  i7 

The  genus  Pyrola  belongs  to  the  class  Be- 
candria,  and  order  Monogynia,     It  ranks  among 

2.  Style  straight,  stio^ma  peltate. 
P.  secunda,  P.  uniflora,  &c, 
S.  Style  incrassatedj  calyx  five  leaved^ 

P.  maculata. 
4,  Style  immersed^  calyx  five  toothed, 
P.  umbellata. 

If  we  go  farther  and  take  into  view  the  direction  and  form  of  the 
filaments,  and  the  other  parts  of  flower  and  fruit,  with  their  various 
combinations ;  we  shall  have  nearly  as  many  genera  as  there  are  now 
species,  since  it  is  well  known  that  many  of  the  most  important  spe- 
cific distinctions  in  this  genus  are  taken  from  the  fructification. 

On  these  accounts  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  genus  Pyrola 
had  better  remain  entire.  In  habit  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  most 
natural  genera  we  possess.  All  the  species  are  humble  evergreens, 
growing  in  woods,  with  creeping  roots,  ascending  sterns,  and  nodding 
flowers.  All  of  them  have  their  leaves  in  irregular  whorls,  flower  with 
reversed  anthers,  and  retain  their  style  until  the  fruit  is  ripe.  In. 
inflorescence,  one  is  solitary,  two  somewhat  corymbed,  and  the  rest 
spiked.  The  leaves  of  P.  secunda,  umbellata  and  maculata  are  usu- 
ally in  two  or  more  whorls ;  those  of  most  others  in  one  radical 
whorl  OF  aggregate.     One  species  is  said  to  be  leafless. 

In  the  dissections  accompanying  the  figure  of  P.  umbellata  I  have 
endeavoured  to  represent  the  evident  gradation  of  the  style  from  the 
species  in  which  it  is  longest,  to  that  in  which  it  is  shortest.  In  the 
same  plate  are  added  some  of  the  varieties  of  the  calyx  and  stamens. 

The  following  remark  of  Sir  James  Edward  Smith,  the  learned 
president  of  the  Linnsean  society,  is  from  Rees'  Cyclopedia,  Jirt. 
Pyrola.  "  We  can  by  no  means  assent  to  the  establishment  of  that 
able  writer's  (Fursh's)  Genus  Chimaphila,  there  being  surely  no  di- 
versity of  habrt  to  support  it,  nor  any  character  but  a  diSereuce  in 
the  length  of  the  style  ;  which  the  other  species  of  Pyrola  shew  to  af- 
ford admirable  specific,  but  no  generic  distinctions. 


18  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

tlie  Bicornes  of  Linnaeus  and  the  Ericw  of  Jus- 
sieu. 

The   generic  character  is   as  follows.     Calyx 
mostly  jive  parted  ;  petals  jive  ;  anthers  inverted^ 
opening  hy  two  tubular  pores  ;  capsule  jive  celled, 
jive  valved. 

The  species  umhellata  has  its  leaves  wedge 
shaped  and  toothed,  flowers  somewhat  umhelled, 
calyocfive  toothed^  and  style  immersed. 

Its  more  minute  description  is  as  follows  : 

Root  woodj,  creepin,^,  sending  up  stems  at 
various  distances.  The  stems  are  ascending, 
somewhat  angular,  and  marked  with  the  scars  of 
the  former  leaves  The  leaves  grow  in  irregular 
whorls,  of  which  there  are  from  one  to  four.  They 
are  evergreen,  coriaceous,  on  very  short  petioles, 
wedge  shaped,  subacute,  serrate,  smooth,  shin- 
ing, the  lower  surface  somewhat  paler.  The 
flowers  grow  in  a  small  corymb,  on  nodding  pe- 
duncles, which  are  furnished  with  linear  bractes 
about  their  middle.  Calyx  of  five  roundish  suba- 
cute teeth  or  segments,  much  shorter  than  the 
corolla.  Petals  five,  roundish,  concave,  spreading, 
cream  coloured,  with  a  tinge  of  purple  at  base. 
Stamens  ten.  Filaments  sigmoid,  the  lower  half 
fleshy,  triangular,  dilated,  and  slightly  pubescent 
at  the  edges  ;  the  upper  half  filiform.     Anthers 


WINTER  GREEN.  19 

two  celled,  each  cell  opening  by  a  short,  round, 
tubular  orifice,  which  points  downward  in  the  bud, 
but  upward  in  the  flower.  Pollen  white.  Germ 
roundish, depressed,  furrowed,  obscurely  five  lobed, 
with  a  funnel  shaped  cavity  at  top.  Style  straight, 
half  as  long  as  the  germ,  inversely  conical,  insert- 
ed in  the  cavity  of  the  germ,  and  concealed  by  the 
stigma.  Stigma  large  peltate,  convex,  moist,  ob- 
scurely five  rayed.  Capsules  erect,  depressed,  five 
celled,  five  valved,  the  partitions  from  the  middle 
of  the  valves.  Seeds  linear,  chaffy,  very  numerous 
and  minute. 

This  plant,  like  the  other  species  of  Pyrola,  is 
very  difficult  to  cultivate,  when  transplanted  from 
its  native  soil;  although  it  thrives  luxuriantly  in 
the  shade  and  rich  mould  of  the  forests  where  it 
originates. 

The  leaves  of  P3  rola  umbellata,  when  chewed, 
communicate  to  the  mouth  a  taste  which  partakes 
of  both  sweet  and  bitter.  The  stalk  and  roots 
possess  the  same  taste,  combined  with  a  moderate 
degree  of  pungency.  A  Dissertation  "  De  Pyrola 
umbellata,"  published  at  Gottingen,  by  Dr.  Wolf, 
in  I8I75  contains  an  elaborate  chemical  examina- 
tion of  this  plant.  As  the  result  of  his  trials,  this 
author  concludes,  that  100  parts  of  Pyrola  umbel- 
lata contain  about  18  of  a  bitter  extractive  princi- 


30  PYROIiA  TJMBELLATA 

pie,  2.04  of  resin,  1.38  of  tannin,  a  slight  portion 
of  gum,  and  the  rest  of  fibrina  and  earthy  salts. 
The  resin  is  adhesive,  brownish,  readily  soluble  in 
etlier  apd  alkalis,  burning  with  flame  and  a  res- 
inous odour,  and  leaving  a  white  cinder. 

From  my  own  trials  the  quantity  of  resin  in 
this  plant  appears  to  be  very  small.  A  saturated 
tincture  of  a  deep  brown  colour  does  not  give  a 
precipitate  on  the  first  addition  of  water.  It  is 
only  after  some  time  standing,  and  partly  perhaps 
from  the  evaporation  of  the  alcohol,  that  a  turbid- 
ness  begins  to  appear  in  the  solution.  It  is  prob. 
able  that  spirit  is  a  better  menstruum  than  watept, 
for  the  soluble  portions  of  this  plant,  although  the 
latter  is  capable  of  extracting  the  greater  part  of 
its  virtue. 

The  Pyrola  umhellata,  though  scarcely  known 
as  a  medicine  until  within  a  few  years  past,  has 
at  the  present  day  acquired  a  reputation  of  con- 
siderable extent  in  the  treatment  of  various  dis- 
eases. Its  popular  celebrity  seems  to  have  origi- 
nated in  its  application  to  the  treatment  of  fever 
and  rheumatism  ;  but  the  attention  of  physicians 
has  been  chiefly  drawn  towards  its  use  in  other 
complaints.  The  instances  in  which  this  plant 
has  received  favourable  testimonies  on  medical 
authority,  of  its   successful  use,  both  in  America 


WINTER  GREEN.  SjL 

and  Europe,  are  principally  the  following.  1.  As 
a  palliative  in  strangury  and  nephritis.  2.  As  a 
diuretic  in  dropsy.  3.  As  an  external  stimulant, 
susceptible  of  useful  application  to  various  cases. 
In  the  first  of  these  cases,  the  Pyrola  is  entitled 
to  attention  and  confidence.  Some  practitioners 
in  this  country  have  employed  it  with  advantage 
in  the  same  cases,  in  which  the  Arbutus  Uva  ursi 
is  recommended*.  Dr.  Wolf,  the  German  writer 
lately  cited,  has  reported  a  number  of  cases  of 
ischuria  and  dysuria,  arising  from  various  causes, 
in  which  the  Pyrola,  given  in  infusion,  produced 
the  most  evident  relief,  and  took  precedence  of  a 
variety  of  remedies  which  had  been  tried.  His 
method  of  administering  it  was  to  give  a  table 
spoonful  of  a  strong  infusion,  with  a  little  syrup, 
every  hour.  In  all  the  cases  he  has  detailed, 
small  as  the  dose  was,  it  gave  relief  in  a  very  short 
time.  In  one  case  its  effect  was  so  distinctly 
marked,  that  the  disease  returned  whenever  the 
medicine  was  omitted  and  was  removed  on  re- 
suming its  use.  A  tonic  operation  attended  its 
other  effects,  so  that  the  appetite  was  improved 
and  digestion  promoted  during  the  period  of  its 
employment. 

*  See  Dr.  Mitchell's  Inaugural  Dissertation.   Philadelphia,  1803. 


S«  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

The  diuretic  properties  of  the  Pyrola  umbel- 
lata,  seem  to  have  been  fully  illustrated  by  Dr. 
W.  Somerville  in  a  paper  on  this  vegetable,  pub- 
lished in  the  5th  volume  of  the  London  Medico- 
Chirurgical  transactions.  The  facts  presented 
by  this  physician  afford  satisfactory  evidence  of 
the  power  of  this  medicine  to  promote  the  renal 
excretion,  and  to  afford  relief  to  patients  afflicted 
with  dropsy  in  its  various  forms.  The  most  dis- 
tinguished case  presented  by  him,  is  that  of  Sir 
James  Craig,  the  British  governour  in  Canada, 
who  was  labouring  under  a  general  dropsy,  which 
in  its  progress  had  assumed  the  forms  of  hydro- 
thorax,  anasarca  and  ascites,  and  which  was  com- 
bined with  different  organic  diseases,  especially  of 
the  liver.  After  having  tried  with  little  or  tempora- 
ry success,  almost  every  variety  of  diuretic  and  ca- 
thartic medicines,  and  submitted  twice  to  the 
operation  of  tapping,  tlie  patient  had  recourse  to 
a  strong  infusion  of  the  Pyrola,  in  the  quantity  of  a 
pint  every  twenty  four  hours.  Although  the  case 
was  altogether  an  unpromising  one,  yet  the  plant 
gave  relief,  not  only  in  the  first,  but  in  the  sub- 
sequent instances  of  its  use.  It  increased  the 
urinal  discharge,  and  at  the  same  time  produced 
an  augmentation  of  strength  and  an  invigorated 
appetite. 


WINTER  GREEN.  3S 

Several  other  cases  of  dropsy  are  detailed  in 
Dr.  Somerville's  paper,  in  which  the  Pyrola  was 
administered  by  himself  and  by  other  practioners 
with  decided  advantage.  Dr.  Satterly  and  Dr. 
Marcet  are  among  those  who  have  added  their 
observations  to  the  testimonies  in  its  favour.  Dr. 
Somerville  found  his  patients  to  remark,  that  an 
agreeable  sensation  was  perceived  in  the  stomach 
soon  after  taking  the  Pyrola,  and  that  this  was 
followed  in  some  instances  by  an  extraordinary 
increase  of  appetite.  He  considers  it  as  having 
in  this  respect  a  great  advantage  over  other  diu- 
retics, none  of  which  are  agreeable  to  the  stomach, 
and  most  of  them  very  offensive  to  it.  He  fur- 
ther states,  that  no  circumstance  had  occurred 
within  his  own  experience  or  information,  to  for- 
bid its  use  in  any  form,  or  to  limit  the  dose. 

Dr.  Wolf  has  given  one  very  satisfactory  case 
of  the  utility  of  our  plant  in  ascites.  He  also 
found  it  to  alleviate  altogether  the  ardor  urinse 
attendant  on  gonorrhea. 

Such  are  the  most  important  facts  which  to  my 
knowledge  have  been  published  respecting  the 
internal  use  of  the  Pyrola  umbellata.  I  have 
administered  this  plant  on  various  occasions,  and 
attended  to  its  mode  of  operation.  In  a  number 
of  dropsical  cases,  when  first  given,  it  made  a  dis- 


^4?  PYROLA  U3IBELLA1'A. 

tinct  and  evident  impression  on  the  disease,  com- 
municating an  increased  activity  to  the  absorbents, 
followed  by  a  great  augmentation  of  the  excretion 
from  the  kidnies.    The  benefit,  however,  with  me 
has  been  in  most  instances  temporary,  and  it  was 
found  better  to  omit  the  medicine  for  a  time  and 
to  resume  it  afresh,  than  to  continue  it  until  the 
system   had  become   insensible  to   its  stimulus. 
After  suspending  it  for  a  week  or  two,  the  same 
distinct  operation  took   place  on  returning  to  its 
use,  as  had  been  manifested  in  the  first  instance. 
It  proved  in  almost  every  instance,  a  very  accep- 
table medicine  to  the  patient,  and  was  preferred 
both  for  its  sensible  qualities  and  its  effects  on  the 
stomach,  to  other  diuretics  and  alteratives  which 
had  been  prescribed. 

The  Pyrola  has  been  considerably  employed 
as  an  external  application  in  tumours  and  ulcers 
of  various  descriptions.  It  first  acquired  notice 
in  consequence  of  some  newspaper  attestations  of 
its  efiicacy  in  the  cure  of  cancer.  Those  persons 
who  know  how  seldom  genuine  cancers  occur  in 
comparison  with  reputed  ones,  will  be  more  ready 
to  allow  it  the  character  of  curing  ulcerous,  than 
really  cancerous  affections.  There  are  undoubt- 
edly many  ulcers,  and  those  frequently  of  a  malig- 
nant  kind,  which  are  benefitted  by   antiseptic 


WINTER  GREEN.  S5 

stimulants  ;  ^nd  to  such  the  Pyrola  may  he  useful. 
But  of  its  efficacy  in  real  cancer  we  require 
more  evidence  than  is  at  present  possessed,  before 
we  ascribe  to  it  the  power  of  controlling  so  for- 
midable a  malady. 

Dr.  Miller  of  Franklin  informs  me  that  he  has 
used  a  decoction  and  cataplasm  of  this  plant  with 
apparent  success  in  various  chronic  indurated 
swellings.  It  acts  as  a  topical  stimulant,  and 
when  long  continued,  not  unfrequently  vesicates. 
Tumours  of  long  standing  have  in  several  in- 
stances disappeared  under  its  use. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Pyrola  umbellata,  Liif.  Sp.  jyl.  Gmeliiv,  Flora  Sihirica. 
Roth,  Flora  Germanica. — Bot.  Mag,  t.  778. — Michatjx,  Flora 
Americana,  i.  251. — Pyrola  fruticans,  Parkinsox,  Theatrum, 
509. — J.  Bauhin,  Mst.  plant,  iii.  536. — Chiinaphila  corymbosa, 
PuESH,  i,  300. — ^NuTTALi,  Genera,  i.  274. 

'     MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Mitchell,  Inaugural  Dissertation. — Somerville,  Medico- 
Chirurgical  Transactions,  vol.  v. — ^Wolf,  Dissertatio  Inauguralis. 

PLATE  XXI. 

Fig.    1.  Ptjrola  unibellata. 
Fig.    2.  Pistil  of  Ptjrola  rotundifolia. 
Fig.    S.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  secunda. 
Fig.    4.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  uniflora. 
Fig.    5,  Pistil  of  Pijrola  maculata. 
4 


gg  PYROLA  UMBELLATA. 

Fig.    6.  Pistil  of  Pyrola  umMlata.  ^ 

Fig.    7.  Section  of  the  same,  shewing  the  length  of  the  style. 

Fig.    8.  Five  toothed  calyx  of  P.  umhellata. 

Fig.    9.  Five  leaved  calyx  and  incrassated  pedicel  of  P.  ma- 

calata* 
Fig.  10.  Anther  magnified  ofF.  secunda. 
Fig.  It.  Ditto  of  F.  rotundifolia. 
Fig.  12.  Stamen  magnified  of  P.  umUllata. 
Ft"-.  13.  Ditto  ofF.  maculata. 


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PARTRIDGE  BERRY.  29 

The  species  prociimheiis  has  a  prostrate  stem, 
with  ascending  branches.  Leaves  in  a  terminal 
tuft,  obovate  with  a  few  ciliate  serratures.  Flowers 
accillary. 

Class  Decandria,  order  Monogynia,  IVatural 
orders  Bicornes  Linn.     Ericm  Jiiss. 

The  stem,  or  as  it  might  be  called  root  of  this 
plant  is  horizontal,  woody,  often  a  quarter  of  an 
inch  in  thickness.  The  branches  are  ascending, 
but  a  few  inches  high,  round  and  somewhat 
downy.  Leaves  scattered,  near  the  extremities  of 
the  branches,  evergreen,  coriaceous,  shining,  oval 
or  obovate,  acute  at  both  ends,  re  volute  at  the 
edge,  and  furnished  with  a  few  small  serratures, 
each  terminating  in  a  bristle.  Flowers  axillary, 
drooping,  on  round  downy  stalks.  Outer  calyx  of 
two  concave,  heart  shaped  leafets,  which  may  with 
perhaps  more  propriety  be  called  bractes.  Inner 
calyx  monophyllous,  white,  cleft  into  five  roundish 
subacute  segments.  Corolla  white,  urceolate,  five 
angled,  contracted  at  the  mouth,  the  border  divid- 
ed into  five  short,  reflexed  segments,  Filaments 
white,  hairy,  bent  in  a  semicircular  manner  to  ac- 
commoelate  themselves  to  the  cavity  between  the 
corolla  and  germ.  Anthers  oblong,  orange  col- 
oured, ending  in  two  double  horns,  bursting  out- 
wardly, for  their  w  hole  length  above  the  filaments, 


30  GAULTHERIA  PROCUMBENS. 

and  not  opening  by  pores  as  in  Pyroia.     Pollen 
white.     Germ  roundish,  depressed,  five  angled, 
resting  on  a  reddish,  ten  toothed,  glandular  ring. 
Style  erect,  straight.    Stigma  simple,  moist.    The 
fruit  is  a  small,  five  celled  capsule,  invested  with 
the  calyx,  which  becomes  large,  round,  and  fleshy, 
having  the  appearance  of  a  bright  scarlet  berry. 
If  the  aroma  or  odour  and   also  the  taste   of 
plants  were  susceptible  of  description  in  as  defi- 
nite language  as  their  proportions  and  form,  the 
sensible  qualities  of  many  vegetables  might  afford 
new  grounds  for  generalizing  and  combining  them 
together.     The  aromatic  flavour  of  the  Partridge 
berry,  which  cannot  easily  be  mistaken  by  those 
who  have  once  tasted  it,  may  be  recognised  in  a 
variety  of  other  plants,  wliose  botanical  habits  are 
very  dissimilar.     It  exists  very  exactly  in  some 
of  the  other  species  of  the  same  genus,  particu- 
larly in  Gaultlieria  hisphlula ;  also  in  Spirwa  nlma- 
ria  and  the  root  of  Spivcea  lohata.     It  is  particu- 
larly distinct   in  the    bark   of  the    Sweet  birch, 
Betula  lenta,  one  of  our  most  useful  and  interest- 
ini?  trees. 

This  taste  and  odour  reside  in  a  volatile  oil, 
which  is  easily  separated  by  distillation.  The 
essential  oil  of  Gaultlieria,  which  is  often  kept  in 
our  druggists'  shops,  is  of  a  pale  or  greenish  white 


PARTRIDGE  BERRY.  31 

colour  and  perfectly  transparent.  It  is  one  of  the 
heaviest  of  the  volatile  oils,  and  sinks  rapidly  in 
water  if  a  sufficient  quantity  be  added  to  overcome 
the  repulsion  of  two  heterogeneous  fluids.  Its 
taste  is  aromatic,  sweet  and  highly  pungent. 

The  oil  appears  to  contain  the  chief  medicinal 
virtue  of  the  plant,  since  I  know  of  no  case  in 
which  the  leaves,  deprived  of  their  aroma,  have 
been  employed  for  any  purpose.  They  are  nev- 
ertheless considerably  astringent,  and  exhibit  the 
usual  evidences  of  this  property  when  combined 
with  preparations  of  iron. 

The  berries,  or  berry-like  calyces,  have  a  pulpy 
but  rather  dry  consistence,  and  a  strong  flavour 
of  the  plant.  They  are  esteemed  hj  some  persons, 
but  are  hardly  palatable  enough  to  be  considered 
esculent.  In  the  colder  seasons  they  afford  food 
to  the  partridges  and  some  other  wild  animals. 

The  leaves,  the  essence  and  the  oil  of  this 
plant  are  kept  for  use  in  the  apothecaries'  shops. 
An  infusion  of  the  leaves  has  been  used  to  com- 
municate an  agreeable  flavour  to  tea,  also  as  a 
substitute  for  that  article  by  people  in  the  country. 
Some  physicians  have  prescribed  it  medicinally  as 
an  emmenagogue,  with  success  in  cases  attended 
with  debility.  The  oil,  though  somewliat  less  pun- 
gent than  those  of  peppermint  and  origanum,  is 


3S         GAULTHERIA  PROCUMBENS. 

employed  for  the  same  purposes.  It  shares  with 
them  the  property  of  diminishing  the  sensibility 
of  the  nerve  exposed  by  a  carious  tooth,  when, 
repeatedly  applied.  The  essence,  consisting  of 
the  volatile  oil  dissolved  in  alcohol  or  proof  spirit, 
is  antispasmodic  and  diaphoretic,  and  may  be 
applied  in  all  cases  where  warm  or  cordial  stimu- 
lants are  indicated.  A  tincture,  formed  by  digest- 
ing the  leaves  in  spirit,  possesses  the  astringency 
as  well  as  warmth  of  the  plant,  and  has  been  use- 
fully employed  in  diarrhsea. 

A  respectable  physician  of  Boston  informs  me, 
that  he  has  in  various  instances  found  the  infu- 
sion of  this  plant  very  eifectual  in  promoting  the 
mammary  secretion,  when  deficient ;  and  even  in 
restoring  that  important  function  after  it  had  been 
for  some  time  suspended.  Whether  the  medi- 
cine has  any  specific  influence  of  this  sort,  inde- 
pendent of  the  general  state  of  the  patient's  health, 
I  am  not  prepared  to  say. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Gaultlieria  procumbens,  Liivn.  Sp.  pi. — Michaux,  Flow  i.  p. 
249. — PuESH,  i.  283. — NuTTAiL,  Gen.  i.  263. — Andrews,  BoU 
Repository,  t.  116. — Wiild.  Arh.  123. — 'Vitis  Id^ea  Canadensis 
Pyrolse  folio,  Tournefort,  Inst,  608. — Anonyma  pedunculis 
arcuatis,  Coidejt,  Mveh,  98. 


PARTRIDGE  BERRY.  S3 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 
Kalm^  Amxnitates  ^cademicce,  iii.  14, — Bart.  Coll.  i.  19. 

PLATE  XXIT. 

Fig.  1.  Gaultheria  prociimbens. 

Fig.  2.  The  bractes  or^  outer  calyx. 

Fig.  3.  The  true  calyx. 

Fig.  4.  Stamen  of  the  natural  si'ze. 

Fig.  5.  Anther  magnifiedf  the  dark  places  shewing  the  mode  of 

opening. 
Fig.  6.  Calyx  and  pistil. 
Fig.  7.  Fruit. 

Fig.  8.  Longitudinal  section  of  the  fruit. 
Fig.  9.  Transverse  section  of  the  capsule. 


PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 


May  Apple. 

PLATE  XXIU, 

_L  HE  Podophyllimi  peltatum  or  May  apple, 
otherwise  called  Mandrake  in  this  country,  in- 
habits low  shady  situations  from  New  England  to 
Georgia.  On  the  Atlantic  coast  I  have  never 
met  with  it  farther  north  than  Boston,  yet  in  the 
interior  of  the  country  it  has  a  more  extensive 
range.  From  its  large  creeping  roots,  it  has  a 
great  tendency  to  multiply,  and  is  always  found 
in  beds  of  greater  or  less  extent.  Its  flowering 
time  is  from  March  to  May. 

This  plant  is  one  of  the  ^anunculacem  of  Jus- 
sieu  and  Rhoeades  of  Linn&eus  ;  and  is  in  the  first 
order  of  the  Class  Polyandria. 

Its  generic  character  consists  in  a  calycc  of 
three  leaves  ;  from  six  to  nine  petals ;  and  a  one-cel- 
led herry  crowned  with  the  stigma.     Only  one  spe- 


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36  PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 

transparent  veins.  Stamens  shorter  than  the  pe- 
tals, curving  upwards  ;  the  anthers  oblong,  twice 
as  long  as  their  filaments.  Germ  oval,  compress- 
ed, obscurely  angTilar.  Stigma  nearly  sessile, 
convex,  its  surface  rendered  irregular  by  nume- 
rous convolutions  and  folds.  The  flower  is  suc- 
ceeded by  a  large  ovate  yellowish  fruit,  which  is 
one  celled,  many  seeded  and  crowned  with  the 
stigma.  Its  early  period  of  ripening  has  given 
rise  to  the  trivial  name  of  May  apple. 

The  dried  root  of  the  May  apple  is  fragile  and 
easily  reduced  to  powder.  It  has  a  peculiar  and 
rather  unpleasant  taste,  but  without  much  acri- 
mony. When  chcAved  for  some  time,  it  manifests 
a  strong  bitter  taste.  Both  the  tincture  and  de- 
coction are  intensely  bitter.  When  water  is  add- 
ed to  the  alcoholic  solution  the  mixture  becomes 
very  gradually  turbid,  and  at  length  opaque.  On 
the  other  hand,  alcohol  disturbs  both  the  infusion 
and  decoction,  especially  the  latter,  in  which  it 
produces,  after  some  time,  a  pearly  whiteness. 
The  trials  I  have  made  with  it  lead  me  to  con- 
clude that  it  contains  a  resin,  a  bitter  extractive 
matter,  fsecula  and  a  slight  proportion  of  a  gummy 
substance. 

The  medicinal  properties  of  the  Podophyllum 
peltatum  are  those  of  a  sure  and  active  cathartic^ 


MAY  APPLE.  37 

in  which  character  it  deseryes  a  high  rank  among 
our  indigenous  productions.  We  have  hardly  any 
native  plant  which  answers  better  the  common 
purposes  of  jalap,  aloes  and  rhubarb,  and  which 
is  more  safe  and  mild  in  its  operation.  The  root 
is  the  part  to  be  employed,  and  should  be  given 
in  substance  in  fine  powder.  I  have  commonly 
found  twenty  grains  to  operate  with  efficacy,  and 
not  to  be  attended  with  pain  or  inconvenience. 
In  irritable  stomachs  it  sometimes  occasions  nau- 
sea and  vomiting,  but  this  effect,  as  is  well  known, 
may  ensue  from  any  cathartic  medicine.  The  late 
Professor  Barton  informs  us,  that  although  the 
root  is  an  excellent  cathartic,  the  leaves  are  poi- 
sonous, and  the  whole  plant  has  something  of  a 
narcotic  quality.  Its  botanical  affinities  would 
justify,  a  priori,  a  suspicion  of  this  kind.  In  the 
various  trials  which  I  have  made  with  it,  I  have 
not  observed  any  such  property  in  the  root.  The 
leaves  I  have  never  subjected  to  experiment  for 
any  purpose. 

The  fruit  is  acid  and  agreeable  to  the  taste  of 
many  persons.  It  is  sometimes  called  wild  lem- 
ons, and  is  eaten  with  impunity. 

The  root  is  said  by  some  physicians  to  be  a 
medicine  particularly  suited  to  dropsy.     It  has 


38  PODOPHYLLUM  PELTATUM. 

also  had  tlie  character  in  the  Southern  States  of 
curing  intermittent  fever. 

A  physician  in  Albany  informs  me  that  the 
Shakers  at  Lebanon,  N.  Y.  prepare  an  extract  of 
the  Podophyllum,  which  is  much  esteemed  by 
medical  practitioners  as  a  mild  cathartic.  These 
people  are  well  known  to  our  druggists  by  the 
care  and  neatness  with  which  they  prepare  a  va- 
riety of  medicines  from  native  and  naturalized 
pharmaceutical  plants. 

For  medicinal  use  the  root  of  the  May  apple 
is  advised  to  be  dug  in  the  cold  season,  when  veg- 
etation is  not  active,  viz.  in  the  autumn  and  win- 
ter. At  this  part  of  the  year  the  secretions  of 
perennial  plants  are  concentrated  in  their  roots, 
and  the  same  weight  of  their  substance  is  less  di- 
luted with  the  watery  or  ascending  sap,  than  it 
is  at  any  other  period.  This  constitutes  a  rea- 
son why  the  roots  of  all  perennial  plants  should, 
as  far  as  practicable,  be  taken  up  during  the  cold 
season.  But  from  what  I  have  been  able  to  ob- 
serve, the  difference  of  their  virtue  in  different 
months  is  much  less  than  is  commonly  supposed. 
I  never  knew  a  medicinal  plant  whose  efficacy 
was  destroyed  in  consequence  of  being  taken  up 
even  at  midsummer,  although  it  may  be  in  some 
degree  lessened.     It  is  probable  that  those  roots 


MAY  APPLE.  39 

which  constitute  staple  articles  of  commerce,  as 
ipecac,  gentian,  rhuharb,  §c.  are  gathered  indis- 
criminately for  exportation  at  all  seasons  when 
they  are  to  be  found.  Being  collected  by  savages 
or  by  ignorant  persons,  who  seek  for  them  in  theu* 
native  wilds,  and  who  are  not  much  interested  in 
their  future  efficacy ;  it  is  probable  they  would  be 
gathered  in  greatest  quantities  when  their  vege- 
tation was  most  luxuriant,  because  at  this  time 
their  shoots  and  tops  would  be  most  conspicuous. 
We  know  this  to  be  the  case  with  our  Ginseng, 
Spigelia,  Snake  root,  ^c.  which  form  considerable 
articles  of  exportation,  and  which  it  would  be  dif- 
ficult to  find  at  any  other  than  the  vegetating  sea- 
son.* 

*  Annual  plants  should  be  gathered  at  the  time  when  their  veg- 
etation is  most  vigorous,  which  is  generally  from  the  time  they  begin 
to  flower,  until  the  leaves  begin  to  change.  The  leaves  contain  the 
greatest  activity  in  most  annual  plants  employed  for  medicine,  while 
the  root  is  a  comparatively  insignificant  part,  being  small,  woody  and 
fibrous.  Thus  the  leaves  of  Stramonium  and  Tobacco  are  much  more 
active  than  the  root. 

Biennial  plants  should,  in  most  instances,  be  gathered  in  the 
second  season  of  their  growth,  and  about  the  time  of  flowering.  The 
leaves  of  these  plants  also  contain  their  medicinal  activity,  as  in  Hem- 
lock and  Henbane.  The  roots  are  medicinal,  but  usually  in  a  less 
degree.  In  some  aromatic  biennials,  the  seeds  are  the  most  impor- 
tant part  of  the  plant. 


40  P0D0PI1YLLU31  PELTATUM. 

BOTA]>fICAL  REFERENCES. 

Podophyllum  peltatum,  Lrtof.  Sp.  pi. — Michaux,  Flora^  i. 
309. — PuRSH,  ii.  366. — Lamarck,  Illust.  gen, — Trew,  Ehret.  U 
29. — Anapodophyllum  Canadense,  Catesbt,  Car,  i.  24. — Aco- 
iiitifolius  humilis  &c.  Mentz.  ^itg-.  t.  11, 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHoePF,  86, — B.  S.  Bartoij,  edit,  of  CuUenf  375.— «Thach- 

ER,  Disp,  307. — Chapman,  Mat,  Med,  209. 

PLATE  XXIIL 

Fig.  1.  Podophyllum  peltatum. 

Fig.  2.  Calyx, 

Fig.  3.  Stamens, 

Fig.  4.  Germ  and  stigma. 

Fig.  5.  Fruit. 


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ICTODES  FOETIDUS. 


Skunk  Cabbage. 


PLJiTE  xxir. 


A  HIS  is  one  of  our  most  noticeable  plants, 
both  from  the  frequency  of  its  occurrence  and  the 
peculiarity  of  its  sensible  properties.  Scarcely  a 
swamp  or  meadow  is  found  in  the  middle  and 
northern  parts  of  the  United  States  in  which  this 
vegetable  may  not  be  discovered  at  a  distance,  es- 
pecially in  the  spring  season,  by  its  large  tufts  of 
rank,  crowded  leaves.  Its  singular  flowers  are 
among  the  first  which  break  from  the  ground, 
after  the  rigours  of  winter,  appearing  in  different 
latitudes,  from  February  to  April.  The  vegeta- 
tion is  rapid,  so  that  in  most  instances  the  fruit  is 
ripe  and  the  leaves  wholly  decayed  before  the  end 
of  August.  From  this  precocity  of  the  plant  to- 
gether with  the  depth  to  which  the  roots  pene- 
trate the  earth,  it  seems  calculated  to  bear  the 
6 


44  ICTODES  FCETIDUS,  , 

the  spathe.  Calyx  leaves  four,  fleshy,  wedge 
shaped,  truncate,  the  top  and  edges  inflected,  the 
whole  crowded  together  so  as  to  form  a  compact 
covering  for  the  spadix.  Stamens  four,  opposite 
the  calyx  leaves,  with  subulate  filaments  equal  in 
length  to  the  calyx,  and  oblong  four  celled  anthers. 
Style  four  sided,  tapering  ;  stigma  minute,  pubes- 
cent ;  germ  roundish,  concealed  within  the  spadix. 
After  the  spathe  decays,  the  spadix  continues  to 
grow,  and  with  it  every  part  of  the  flowers  except 
the  anthers.  When  the  fruit  is  ripe,  the  spadix 
has  attained  many  times  its  original  dimensions, 
while  the  calyx,  filaments  and  style  are  larger, 
very  prominent  and  separated  from  each  other. 
"Within  the  spadix  at  the  base  of  each  style  is  a 
round,  fleshy  seed,  as  large  as  a  pea,  white,  tinged 
with  green  and  purple,  invested  with  a  separate 
membranous  coat,  and  with  a  prominent  corcu- 
lum  situated  in  a  depression  at  top. 

The  leaves  which  spring  up  some  time  after 
the  flowers  are  numerous,  large  and  crowded,  ob- 
long heart  shaped,  acute,  smooth,  with  numerous 
fleshy  veins  of  a  paler  colour.  They  spring  from 
the  root  on  long  petioles,  hollowed  in  front,  and 
furnished  with  large  oblong  sheaths.  They  con- 
tinae  to  increase  in  size  for  a  month  or  two  after 
the  flowering  period  is  past. 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  45 

Mr.  Niittall,  who  has  observed  the  germination 
of  this  plant,  informs  us  that  the  seed  does  not  ap- 
pear to  possesss  any  other  cotyledon,  than  a 
sheathing  stipule,  similar  to  that  which  is  after- 
wards produced  in  the  plant.  The  principle  hulk 
of  the  seed  is  formed  by  what  he  considers  a, 
yitellus,  having  the  embryo  exactly  resembling 
the  future  plant,  situated  in  an  umbilical  depres- 
sion at  its  top.  The  attachment  of  this  body  to 
the  embryo  is  at  first  by  a  minute  funicuhis, 
which  enlarges  and  becomes  more  distinct  dur- 
ing the  progress  of  germination  ;  but  the  most  sin- 
gular circumstance  respecting  it  is  the  length  of 
time  for  which  it  continues  attached  to  the  grow- 
ing plant,  apparently  inert  at  the  base  of  the  can- 
dex  for  twelve  or  even  eighteen  months. 

The  offensiA'^e  and  powerful  odour  which  char- 
acterizes this  plant  is  not  peculiar  to  it.  The 
fruit  of  some  of  the  North  American  currants,  and 
particularly  Mihes  rigens  of  Michaux,  a  species 
often  met  with  on  the  high  mountains  of  the  East- 
ern States  ;  emits  when  bruised  a  scent  exactly 
similar  to  this  vegetable. 

The  odour  of  the  Ictodes  resides  in  a  princi- 
ple which  is  extremely  volatile.  I  have  not  been 
able  to  separate  it  by  distillation  from  any  part  of 
the  plant,  the  decoction  and  the  distilled  water  be- 


46  ICTODES  lOETIDUS. 

ing  in  my  experiments  but  slightly  impregnated 
with  its  sensible  character.  Alcohol,  digested  on 
the  plant,  retains  its  odour  for  a  time,  but  this  is 
soon  dissipated  by  exposure  to  the  air. 

An  acrid  principle  exists  in  the  root  even 
when  perfectly  dry,  producing  an  effect  like  that 
of  the  Arum  and  Ranunculi.  When  chewed  in 
the  mouth,  the  root  is  slow  in  manifesting  its  pe- 
culiar taste  ;  but  after  some  moments,  a  pricking 
sensation  is  felt,  which  soon  amounts  to  a  disa- 
greeable smarting,  and  continues  for  some  time. 
This  acrimony  is  readily  dissipated  by  heat. 
The  decoction  retains  none  of  it.  The  distilled 
water  is  impregnated  with  it,  if  the  process  be 
carefully  conducted,  but  loses  it  on  standing  a 
short  time. 

A  resinous  substance  is  dislodged  from  the 
alcoholic  solution  of  the  root  by  the  addition  of 
water,  the  solution  becoming  moderately  turbid. 
A  gummy  or  mucous  principle  is  also  present, 
and  fills  the  mouth  with  mucilage  when  the  root 
is  chewed.  It  is  separated  from  the  decoction  in 
sinsil  Jiocculi  when  alcohol  is  added. 

The  spadix  consists  of  a  fleshy  cellular  sub- 
stance, which  shrinks  very  much  in  drying.  The 
seeds  when  dry  are  reduced  to  half  their  former 
size,  and  in  this  state  they  have   a  tough  waxy 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  47 

eonsistence  and  an  animal  odour.  They  contain 
fixed  oil  in  abundance,  which  is  easily  forced  out 
from  them  by  expression.  Their  principal  bulk 
appears  to  be  albumen,  and  when  reduced  to 
powder  they  are  less  easily  soluble  in  boiling 
water,  than  grains  which  are  less  oleaginous. 
They  burn  with  an  oily  smoke,  leaving  behind  a 
large  coal. 

The  sensible  properties  of  the  Ictodes  having 
a  strong  ajQinity  with  those  of  assafcetida  and  tJie 
other  foetid  gums,  practitioners  have  been  led  to 
expect  from  it  a  similar  antispasmodic  power. 
Experience  has  justified  these  expectations  in  a 
variety  of  disorders  of  the  spasmodic  and  nervous 
kind.  The  Eev.  Dr.  Cutler  of  Massachusetts 
was  the  first  who  recommended  its  use  in  asth- 
matic cases.  In  his  account  of  indigenous  Amer- 
ican vegetables,  he  tells  us  that  the  roots  dried 
and  powdered  form  an  excellent  remedy  in  asthma, 
and  often  give  relief  when  other  means  prove  in- 
effectual. It  may  be  given,  he  says,  with  safety 
to  children  as  well  as  adults  ;  to  the  former  in  dos- 
es of  four,  ^\e  or  six  grains,  and  to  the  latter  in 
doses  of  twenty  grains  and  upward.  In  a  private 
letter  he  states,  that  he  made  use  of  it  in  his  own 
case  of  asthma  for  several  years,  and  generally 
found  relief.     Jn  the  winter  he  used  the  dried 


48  ICTODES  FffiTIIiUS. 

root  in  powder,  and  in  summer,  the  fresh  grated 
root.  It  continued  to  afford  more  reUef  than  any 
other  remedy,  so  long  as  the  paroxysms  remain- 
ed under  the  influence  of  any  medicine.  Since 
the  recommendation  of  Dr.  Cutler,  many  country 
physicians  have  employed  the  root  in  asthma, 
catarrh  and  chronic  coughs,  with  evident  benefit. 
A  number  of  cases  have  fallen  under  my  own  ob- 
servation of  the  catarrh  affections  of  old  people,  in 
which  a  syrup  prepared  from  the  root  in  substance 
has  alleviated  and  removed  the  complaint.  Dr. 
Thacher  informs  us  on  various  authorities,  that 
the  powdered  root  has  given  immediate  relief  in 
hysteric  paroxysm,  that  it  has  afiected  the  cure  of 
dropsy,  and  that  rheumatic  patients  have  found 
great  benefit  from  its  use.  Its  strong  and  pene- 
trating acrimony  would  lead  us,  a  priori,  to  ex- 
pect advantage  from  it  in  these  complaints.  Even 
in  the  more  formidable  disease  of  epilepsy,  it  has 
appeared  to  do  good. 

Some  caution,  however,  is  requisite  in  its  man- 
agement, as  serious  inconvenience  may  ensue 
from  an  over  dose.  In  delicate  stomachs  I  have 
found  it  frequently  to  occasion  vomiting  even  in 
a  small  quantity.  In  several  cases  of  gastrodynia 
where  it  was  given  with  a  view  to  its  antispas- 
modic  effect,  it  was  ejected  from  the  stomach 


SKUNK  CABBAGE.  49 

more  speedily  than  common  cathartic  medicines. 
I  have  known  it  in  a  dose  of  thirty  grains  to  bring 
on  not  only  vomiting,  but  headach,  vertigo  and 
temporary  blindness.  Other  practitioners  have 
given  it  in  larger  quantities  witliout  any  evil  of 
this  kind,  but  I  think  such  an  exemption  must 
be  attributed  to  the  age  and  deteriorated  quality 
of  the  root.  Its  active  ingredients  being  more  or 
less  volatile,  it  must  necessarily  be  impaired  in 
strength  by  long  keeping,  especially  in  a  pulveriz- 
ed state. 

To  insure  a  tolerably  uniform  activity  of  this 
medicine,  the  root  should  be  kept  in  dried  slices 
and  not  reduced  to  powder  until  it  is  wanted  for 
use.  It  may  then  be  taken  in  pills  or  mixed  with 
syrup  in  doses  of  from  ten  to  twenty  grains. 
These  may  in  most  instances  be  repeated  three 
times  a  day. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Arum  Americanum,  Catesbt,  Car.  ii.  i.  71. — Dracontium 
foetidum,  Lin.  Stjst.  pi. — Willd.  ii.  288. — Pothos  fosfida,  Mi- 
CHAUx,  Amer,  ii.  186. — Pursh,  ii.  398. — Bot.  Mag.  836. — Sym- 
plocarpus  foetida,  Nuttaxi,  genera,  i.  105. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cutler,  Trans,  Amer,  dead,  1.  407".  Thachee,  Dispensa- 
tory,  150. 


50  ICTODES  FCETIDUS. 


PLATE  XXIV. 


Fig.  1.  Modes  fodidus  injlower,  the  spathe  inclosing  the  €padix» 

Fig.  2.  The  spadix  taken  out  of  the  spathe* 

Fig.  3.  The  leaves,  stalkSf  <^c. 

Fig.  4.  The  spadix  in  fruity  one  quarter  heing  cut  away  to  show 

the  seeds. 
Fig.  5.  djlower  magnified. 
Fig.  6.  The  same  opened. 
Fig.  7.  Petal  and  Stamen* 
Fig.  8.  Style, 
Fig.  9, 10.  Seeds. 


.r  J'  1 


/i^a^ff^f 


■^TK 


J 


iiiDe.orH 
eitenave 

ingtbelile 
riateofid 
roQspiiiitj 

temperitt 
roots  are 
ter.  Tcti 
tktliijsj 
veg«ta[)lei 
fjstiiiiiiliL 


STATICE  CAROLINIANA. 


Marsh  Mosemary, 


FLATE  XXV. 


HE  class  of  vegetables,  denominated  mari- 


time,  or  sea  shore  plants,  are  constituted  to  occupy 
extensive  tracts  of  ground,  which,  from  their  im- 
pregnation with  sea  salt,  are  incapable  of  sustain- 
ing the  life  and  growth  of  other  species.  The  mu- 
riate of  soda,  if  poured  at  the  roots  of  the  most  vigo- 
rous plants  belonging  to  a  fresh  soil,  will  often  de- 
stroy them  in  a  short  time.  Few  forest  trees  of  the 
temperate  zones  can  grow  in  marshes  where  their 
roots  are  wholly  exposed  to  the  access  of  salt  wa- 
ter. Yet  such  is  the  wise  arrangement  of  nature, 
that  this  substance,  which  proves  a  poison  to  most 
vegetables,  is  converted  into  the  food  and  necessa- 
ry stimulus  of  the  rest.  Maritime  plants  flourish 
alike  in  places  visited  by  the  tide,  and  those  ira- 


54  STATICE  CAROLINIANA. 

the  Stamens  inserted  in  their  claws.  Seed  one^  in- 
vested with  the  calyx.  The  species  Caroliniana 
has  its  scape  round  and  panicled ;  its  leaves  oho- 
vate-lanceolate,  smooth,  obtuse,  mucronated,  and 
flat  on  the  margin. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  perennial,  large, 
fleshy,  fusiform  or  branched.  Several  tufts  of 
leaves  and  scapes  are  often  produced  from  the 
same  root.  The  leaves  are  narrow-obovate^  sup- 
ported by  long  petioles,  smooth,  veinless,  obtuse, 
mucronated  by  the  prolongation  of  the  middle 
rib,  level  and  flat  on  the  margin,  in  which  respect 
they  difier  from  S.  limonium,  which  is  undulated. 
Scape  round,  smooth,  furnished  with  a  few  scales, 
flexuous  at  top,  giving  off  numerous  branches, 
which  end  in  spikes  of  flowers  ;  the  whole  form- 
ing a  large  panicle.  The  base  of  each  branch  and 
flower  is  supported  by  an  ovate,  mucronated  scale. 
The  flowers  are  alternate,  erect,  consequently  one 
sided  in  the  horizontal  branches  ;  mostly  in  pairs, 
but  appearing  single  from  one  expanding  before 
the  other.  They  grow  on  a  short,  forked  pedun- 
cle, which  is  concealed  by  several  sheathing  scales, 
part  of  which  are  common  to  the  two,  and  part 
peculiar  to  the  upper  one.  The  calyx  is  funnel 
shaped,  five  angled,  the  angles  ciliate  and  end- 
ing in  long  acute  teeth  with  sometimes,  not  al- 


MARSH  ROSEMARY,  55 

ways,  minute  intermediate  teeth.  Tlie  upper 
part  of  the  calyx  is  scarious  and  of  a  pink  colour. 
Petals  spatulate,  obtuse,  longer  than  the  calyx, 
pale  bluish  purple.  Stamens  inserted  in  the 
claws  of  the  petals,  anthers  heart  shaped.  Germ 
small,  obovate,  with  five  ascending  styles  shorter 
than  the  stamens.  Seed  oblong,  invested  with 
the  persistent  calyx. 

The  root,  which  is  the  officinal  part  of  the 
Marsh  Rosemary,  is  one  of  the  most  intense  and 
powerful  astringents  in  the  vegetable  materia 
medica.  It  communicates  to  the  mouth  an  high- 
ly austere  and  astringent  taste,  combined  with  a 
good  deal  of  bitterness.  Few  vegetable  substan- 
ces, when  chemically  treated,  give  more  distinct 
and  copious  evidence  of  the  presence  of  both 
tannin  and  gallic  acid.  The  sulphate  of  iron 
strikes  a  fine  purple  colour  with  the  solution, 
and  soon  deposits  a  precipitate,  which,  on  expo- 
sure to  the  air,  becomes  of  an  inky  blackness. 
Gelatin  also  throws  down  a  copious,  whitish,  in- 
soluble precipitate.  Resin  hardly  exists  in  this 
root,  nor  any  thing  else  exclusively  soluble  in  al- 
cohol. The  impregnation  with  sea  salt  is  readily 
made  obvious. 

Dr.  Mott,  Professor  of  Surgery  in  the  Univer- 
sity of  New  York,  has  published  an  interesting 


06  STATICE  CAROLINIANA. 

and  valuable  iavestigation  of  the  properties  of  this 
plant  in  1806.  He  informs  ns  that  the  astringen- 
cy,  indicated  by  the  sulphate  of  iron,  was  greater 
in  the  tincture  than  in  the  infusion  under  experi- 
ments precisely  similar ;  from  which  it  may  be 
inferred,  that  alcohol  is  a  better  solvent  for  this 
root  than  water.  He  also  found  the  cold  infusion 
more  powerful  than  the  hot,  a  circumstance  prob- 
ably to  be  accounted  for  by  the  escape  of  a  part 
of  the  gallic  acid  by  evaporation.  The  astringen- 
cy  w  as  found  fully  equal  to  that  of  galls,  and  ink 
made  from  equal  quantities  of  the  two,  similarly 
treated,  was  equal  in  blackness. 

The  Statice  Caroliniana  possesses  much  me- 
dicinal reputation  as  an  astringent,  and  large 
quantities  of  it  are  annually  consumed  in  different 
parts  of  the  United  States.  In  Boston  it  is  reg- 
ularly kept  by  the  druggists,  and  larger  quantities 
are  sold,  than  of  almost  any  indigenous  article. 
It  is  principally  sought  for  as  a  topical  remedy 
in  aphtha  and  other  ulcerative  affections  of  the 
mouth  and  fauces.  From  its  astringent  and  an- 
tiseptic quality,  it  is  peculiarly  suited  to  correct 
the  state  of  these  local  maladies,  and  its  applica- 
tion is  commonly  followed  with  success.  It  is 
much  better  suited  to  such  complaints  than  the 
Coptis  trifolia  or  gold  thread,  with  which  it  is 


MARSH  ROSEMARY,  57 

frequently  combined,  and  which  is  only  a  tonic 
bitter  without  astringency. 

Dr.  Baylies  of  Dighton,  Mass.  emplojed  a  de- 
coction of  the  root,  both  internally  and  externally, 
in  the  Cynanche  maligna,  a  disease  which  has  at 
times  been  epidemic  and  very  destructive  in  dif- 
ferent parts  of  our  country.  It  proved  very  suc- 
cessful not  only  under  his  own  observation,  but 
under  that  of  other  physicians  in  this  dangerous 
complaint. 

Dr.  Mott  informs  us,  that  in  the  chronic  stages 
of  dysentery,  after  tlie  inflammatory  diathesis, 
great  tenesmus,  6)'c.  are  removed  ;  a  strong  de- 
coction of  the  root  has  restored  patients  to  health, 
after  various  tonics  and  astringents  had  been  used 
to  no  effect.  « 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Statice  Caroliniana,  "Walter,  Flora  Car.  1 1 8. — Pursh,  i. 
212. — NuTTALL,  i.  206. — Statice  limoniiim,  Muhlenberg,  Cat- 
aloguCf  33. — Elliott,  Carolina,  i.  874. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Mott,  Inaugural  Dissertation. — Thacher,  Disp,  345. — Bay- 
lies, Papers  of  the  Mass.  Med,  Society,  vol.  i. 
8 


58  STATICE  CAROLINIAlifA. 

PLATE  XXV. 

Fig.  1,  Statice  Caroliniana, 
'%  Fig,  2.  Jl  Jlower  magnified. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx  ditto, 

'"'  Fig.  4.  A  petal  and  stamen  ditto. 

Fig.  5,  6rerni  and  styles  ditto. 


MV 


MM^-^ 


'4^  .f' 


^■^ 


rikiiVi' 


Ji'Y  JVxOiitii 


-'iiJaliAi,     »>«.%>? 


* 

m 

% 


ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSAe 


Buttevfiy  Weed, 


PLATE  XXVI, 


F 


Ew  genera  are  more  curious  and  intricate 
in  their  structure,  than  that  to  which  our  present 
article  belongs.     The  plants  which  constitute  the 
family  of  Asclepias  are  so  peculiar  in  their  habit, 
that  they  are  easily  recognized  even  by  the  inex^ 
perienced  botanist,  while  their  minute  structure 
is  so  complicated,  as  to  require  not  a  little  atten- 
tion for  its  perfect  development.     This  fine  race 
of  plants  are  so  abundant  in  the  United  States, 
that  every  month  of  the  summer  season  presents 
us  a  number  of  beautiful  species.      By  far  the 
most  rich  and  gaudy  of  these  in  appearance  is  the 
Asclepias  tuberosa,  known  by  the  vulgar  names 
of  Biittevjly  weed  and  Fleurisy  rooty  and  found  in 
dry,  sandy  soils,  pine  woods,  §c.  from  Massachu- 


62  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 

The  down  or  silk  of  the  seeds,  in  this  and  oth- 
er species,  furnishes  an  admirable  mechanism  for 
their  dissemination.  When  the  seeds  are  liberat- 
ed by  the  bursting  of  the  follicle  which  contains 
them,  the  silken  fibres  immediately  expand  so  as 
to  form  a  sort  of  globe  of  branching  and  highly 
attenuated  rays,  with  the  seed  suspended  at  its  cen- 
tre. In  this  state  they  are  elevated  by  the  wind 
to  an  indefinite  height,  and  carried  forward  with 
a  voyage  like  that  of  a  balloon,  until  some  obstacle 
intercepts  their  flight,  or  rain  precipitates  them  to 
the  ground. 

The  down  of  different  species  of  Asclepias  is 
susceptible  of  application  to  various  useful  and  or- 
namental purposes.  If  the  fibre  were  sufficiently 
long  to  admit  of  its  being  woven  or  spun,  it  would  ap- 
proach more  closely  to  silk  in  its  gloss  and  texture, 
than  any  vegetable  product  we  possess.  As  it  is, 
it  has  been  substituted  for  fur,  in  the  manufacture 
of  hats,  and  for  feathers  in  beds  and  cushions, 
"When  attached  by  its  ends  to  any  woven  fabric, 
this  down  forms  a  beautiful  imitation  of  the  finest 
and  softest  fur  skins,  and  is  applicable  to  various 
purposes  of  dress.  The  Asclepias  Syriaca,  from 
its  frequency  and  the  large  size  of  its  pods,  has 
been  most  frequently  employed  for  the  foregoing 
purposes.     [JVofe  A.] 


BUTTERFLY  WEED.  63 

The  root  of  the  Butterfly  weed  when  dry  is 
brittle  and  easily  reduced  to  powder.  Its  taste  is 
moderately  bitter,  but  not  otherwise  unpleasant. 
Its  most  abundant  soluble  portions  are  a  bitter  ex- 
tractive matter  and  fsecula,  iKTo  evidence  of  as- 
tringency  is  afforded  on  adding  solutions  of  isin- 
glass or  copperas,  and  hardly  any  traces  of  resin 
on  adding  w  ater  to  alcohol  digested  on  the  root. 
The  decoction  afforded  a  flaky  precipitate  to  alco- 
hol, when  the  infusion  did  not.  Boiling  water 
may  be  considered  the  proper  menstruum  for  this 
plant. 

This  fine  vegetable  is  eminently  intitled  to  the 
attention  of  physicians  as  an  expectorant  and  dia- 
phoretic. It  produces  eff'ects  of  this  kind  with 
great  gentleness,  and  without  the  heating  tenden- 
cy which  accompanies  many  vegetable  sudorifics. 
It  has  been  long  employed  by  practitioners  in  the 
Southern  States  in  pulmonary  complaints,  particu- 
larly in  catarrh,  pneumonia  and  pleurisy,  and  has 
acquired  much  confidence  for  the  relief  of  these 
maladies.  It  appears  to  be  an  expectorant  pecu- 
liarly suited  to  the  advanced  stages  of  pulmonary 
inflammation,  fifter  depletion  has  been  carried  to 
the  requisite  extent.  Dr.  Parker  of  Virginia,  as 
cited  by  Dr.  Thacher,  having  been  in  the  habit  of 
employing  this  root  for  twenty  five  years,  cojjsid- 


64  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 

ers.it  as  possessing  a  peculiar  and  almost  specific 
quality  of  acting  upon  the  organs  of  respiration, 
promoting  suppressed  expectoration,  and  relieving 
the  breathing  of  pleuritic  patients  in  the  most  ad- 
vanced stage  of  the  disease. 

Dr.  Chapman,  Professor  of  medicine  in  Phil- 
adelphia, informs  us  that  his  experience  with  this 
medicine  is  sufficient  to  enable  him  to  speak  with 
confidence  of  its  powers.  As  a  diaphoretic  he 
thinks  it  is  distinguished  by  great  certainty  and 
permanency  of  operation,  and  has  this  estimable 
property,  that  it  produces  its  efiects  without  in- 
creasing much  the  force  of  the  circulation,  raising 
the  temperature  of  the  surface,  or  creating  inqui- 
etude and  restlessness.  On  these  accounts  it  is 
well  suited  to  excite  perspiration  in  the  forming 
states  of  most  of  the  inflammatory  diseases  of 
winter,  and  is  not  less  useful  in  the  same  cases  at 
a  more  advanced  period,  after  the  reduction  of  ac- 
tion by  bleeding,  §c.  The  common  notion  of  its 
having  a  peculiar  efficacy  in  pleurisy,  he  is  inclin- 
ed to  think  is  not  without  foundation.  Certain  it 
is,  says  he,  that  it  very  much  relieves  the  oppres- 
sion of  the  chest  in  recent  catarrh,  and  is  unques- 
tionably an  expectorant  in  the  protracted  pneu- 
monies. 


BUTTERFLY  WEED.  6d 

As  far  as  my  own  observation  with  this  plant 
extends,  I  am  persuaded  of  its  usefulness  in  va- 
rious complaints.  It  appears  to  exert  a  mild  ton- 
ic effect,  as  well  as  a  stimulant  power  on  the  ex- 
cretories.  Like  other  vegetable  bitters,  if  given 
in  large  quantities,  especially  in  infusion  and  de- 
coction, it  operates  on  the  alimentary  canal, 
though  its  efficacy  in  this  respect  is  not  suffi- 
cient to  entitle  it  to  rank  among  active  cathartics. 
I  am  satisfied  of  its  utility  as  an  expectorant  med- 
icine, and  have  seen  no  inconsiderable  benefit 
arise  from  its  use  as  a  palliative  in  phthisis  pul- 
monalis.  Among  other  instances  may  be  cited 
that  of  a  young  physician  in  this  town,  who  died 
two  years  since  of  pulmonary  consumption.  He 
made  great  use  of  the  decoction  of  this  root,  and 
persevered  in  it  a  long  time  from  choice,  finding 
that  it  facilitated  expectoration  and  relieved  the 
dyspnoea  and  pain  in  the  chest,  more  than  any 
other  medicine. 

The  best  mode  of  administering  the  Asclepias 
is  in  decoction  or  in  substance.  A  teacup  full 
of  the  strong  decoction,  or  from  twenty  to  thirty 
grains  of  the  powder,  may  be  given  in  pulmonary 
complaints  several  times  in  a  day.  In  most  cases 
after  the  inflammatory  diathesis  is  in  some  degree 
subsided,  it  may  be  freely  repeated  as  long  as  it 
agrees  with  the  stomach  and  bowels. 
9 


66  ASCLEPIAS  TUBEROSA. 

BOTANICAL  BEFERENCES. 

Asclepias  tuberosa,  Lin.  Sp.  pL — Pursh,  i.  183. — Michaux, 
i.  117. — Elliott,  Car.  i.  325. — Asclepias  decumbens,  a  variety, 
Lin.  Pursh,  &c. — Apocynum  Novse  Anglise  hirsutum  radice 
tuberosa,  floribus  aurantiacis,  Herman,  HorL  646.  U  647. — DiL- 
lENius,  Elth.  S5,  t.  30,  /.  34. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

B.  S.  Barton,  CoUectionSf  48. — Thacher,  Disp,  154.— 
Chapman,  Therapeutics  and  Mat.  Med.  i.  346. 

PLATE  XXVI. 

Fig.  1,  Asclepias  tuherosa. 

Fig.  2.  Jl  fiotver. 

Fig.  3.  Jljiower  dissected,  showing  the  iviass  of  anthers,  undone 

nectary  with. its  horn. 
Fig.  4.  Magnified  section  of  the  mass  of  anthers,  showing  the  sit- 

iiation  of  the  pistils  itiside,  ^c.    A  pair  of  pollen  masses 

is  drawn  out  at  the  top. 
Fig.  5.  Fistils  magnified,  and  calyx. 


JCXV21 


^ 


n 


MAGNOLIA  GLAUCA, 


Small  Magnolia. 


PLATE  XXVIL 

\3y  the  splendid  family  of  trees  known  by 
the  name  of  Magnolia,  the  American  continent 
lias  many  species.  Taken  collectively  they  fur- 
nish perhaps  the  most  elegant  assemblage  produc- 
ed in  the  forests  of  the  temperate  zone.  They 
are  distinguished  by  their  rich,  smooth  foliage, 
large  fragrant  flowers,  and  aromatic  bark.  Some 
of  them  are  trees  of  very  exalted  stature,  taking 
rank  with  the  highest  tenants  of  the  woods.  The 
present  species  is  more  humble  than  the  rest  in 
its  growth,  yet  more  interesting  in  some  of  its  oth- 
er properties. 

The  Magnolia  glauca  has  the  most  extensive 
range,  especially  near  the  sea  board,  of  any  of  the 
species  of  its  family.     Its  most  northern  bounda- 


yQ  MAGNOLIA  GLAUCA. 

linear,  recurved  style.  The  fruit  is  a  cone,  con- 
sisting of  imbricated  cells,  which  open  longitudi- 
nally for  the  escape  of  the  seed.  The  seeds  are 
obovate,  scarlet,  connected  to  the  cone  by  a  thread, 
which  suspends  them  some  time  after  they  have 
fallen  out. 

The  bark  of  the  Magnolia  glauca  has  a  bit- 
ter taste,  combined  with  a  strong  aromatic  pun- 
gency, which  approaches  that  of  Sassafras  and  of 
the  Acorns  calamus.  The  aroma  resides  in  a  vol- 
atile portion,  which  is  probably  an  essential  oil,  or 
a  variety  of  camphor.  It  is  lost  from  the  bark  in 
the  dry  state,  after  it  has  been  kept  some  time. 
Water  distilled  from  the  green  bark  has  its  pecu- 
liar flavour  with  an  empyreumatic  smell.  No  oil 
appears  on  the  surface,  when  the  experiment  is 
conducted  in  the  small  way.  The  dried  bark  af- 
fords a  little  resin,  and  more  of  a  bitter  extractive 
substance.  Chalybeate  tests  produce  a  very  slight 
darkening  of  the  green  colour  of  the  decoction, 
but  gelatin  occasions  no  change.  This  might  be 
anticipated  from  the  little  taste  of  astringency  in 
the  bark. 

As  a  medicinal  article,  the  Magnolia  is  to  be 
considered  an  aromatic  tonic,  approaching  in  its 
charactertoCascarilla,  Canella,  and  articles  of  their 
class.     Considered  simply  in  regard  to  its  tonic 


SMALL   MAGNOLIA.  '      71 

powers,  it  is  probably  of  a  secondary  order,  though 
from  the  additional  properties  which  it  possesses 
of  a  warm  stimulant  and  diaphoretic  is  found  use- 
ful in  certain  disorders.  Chronic  rheumatism  is 
one  of  the  diseases  in  which  it  exhibits  most  effi- 
cacy. Not  only  the  bark,  but  tlie  seeds  and  cones 
which  are  strongly  imbued  with  the  sensible  qual- 
ities of  the  tree,  are  employed  in  tincture  with 
very  good  success  in  this  disease. 

In  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers  the  Mag- 
nolia is  one  of  the  many  tonics  which  have  been 
resorted  to  for  cure  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
marshy  countries  where  they  prevail.  Sufficient 
testimony  has  been  given  in  favour  of  the  bark  of 
this  tree,  to  warrant  a  belief  that  it  is  fully  ade- 
quate to  the  removal  of  fever  and  ague,  when  ad- 
ministered like  the  Cinchona,  in  liberal  quantities 
between  the  paroxysms.  In  the  more  continuous 
forms  of  fever  of  the  typhoid  type,  it  has  also  re- 
ceived tile  commendations  of  physicians. 

Several  other  species  of  Magnolia  resemble  the 
present  very  closely  in  their  sensible  properties, 
and  as  far  as  experiments  have  been  tried,  they 
are  similar  in  their  medicinal  effects.  In  order 
to  secure  the  whole  efficacy  residing  in  these 
trees,  a  tincture  should  be  made  from  the  bark  or 
cones  while  green  or  very  recently  dried,  before 
their  more  volatile  parts  have  escaped. 


7a 


MAGNOLIA  GLAUCA. 


linear,  recurved  stjle.  The  fruit  is  a  cone,  con- 
sisting of  imbricated  cells,  which  open  longitudi- 
nally for  the  escape  of  the  seed.  The  seeds  are 
obovate,  scarlet,  connected  to  the  cone  by  a  thread, 
which  suspends  them  some  time  after  they  have 
fallen  out. 

The  bark  of  the  Magnolia  glauca  has  a  bit- 
ter taste,  combined  with  a  strong  aromatic  pun- 
gency, which  approaches  that  of  Sassafras  and  of 
the  Acorus  calamus.  The  aroma  resides  in  a  vol- 
atile portion,  which  is  probably  an  essential  oil,  or 
a  variety  of  camphor.  It  is  lost  from  the  bark  in 
the  dry  state,  after  it  has  been  kept  some  time. 
Water  distilled  from  the  green  bark  has  its  pecu- 
liar flavour  with  an  empyreumatic  smell.  No  oil 
appears  on  the  surface,  when  the  experiment  is 
conducted  in  the  small  way.  The  dried  bark  af- 
fords a  little  resin,  and  more  of  a  bitter  extractive 
substance.  Chalybeate  tests  produce  a  very  slight 
darkening  of  the  green  colour  of  the  decoction, 
but  gelatin  occasions  no  change.  This  might  be 
anticipated  from  the  little  taste  of  astringency  in 
the  bark. 

As  a  medicinal  article,  the  Magnolia  is  to  be 
considered  an  aromatic  tonic,  approaching  in  its 
characterto  Cascarilla,  Canella,  and  articles  of  their 
class.     Considered  simply  in  regard  to  its  tonic 


«<.-^.'«^ 


SMALL   MAGNOLIA. 


71 


'^VlQ 


powers,  it  is  probably  of  a  secondary  order,  though 
from  the  additional  properties  which  it  possesses 
of  a  warm  stimulant  and  diaphoretic  is  found  use- 
ful in  certain  disorders.  Chronic  rheumatism  is 
one  of  the  diseases  in  which  it  exhibits  most  effi- 
cacy. IVot  only  the  bark,  but  the  seeds  and  cones 
which  are  strongly  imbued  with  the  sensible  qual- 
ities of  the  tree,  are  employed  in  tincture  with 
very  good  success  in  this  disease. 

In  intermittent  and  remittent  fevers  the  Mag- 
nolia is  one  of  the  many  tonics  which  have  been 
resorted  to  for  cure  by  the  inhabitants  of  the 
marshy  countries  where  they  prevail.  Sufficient 
testimony  has  been  given  in  favour  of  the  bark  of 
this  tree,  to  warrant  a  belief  that  it  is  fully  ade- 
quate to  the  removal  of  fever  and  ague,  when  ad- 
ministered like  the  Cinchona,  in  liberal  quantities 
between  the  paroxysms.  In  the  more  continuous 
forms  of  fever  of  the  typhoid  type,  it  has  also  re- 
ceived the  commendations  of  physicians. 

Several  other  species  of  Magnolia  resemble  the 
present  very  closely  in  their  sensible  properties, 
and  as  far  as  experiments  have  been  tried,  they 
are  similar  in  their  medicinal  effects.  In  order 
to  secure  the  whole  efficacy  residing  in  these 
trees,  a  tincture  should  be  made  from  the  bark  or 
cones  while  green  or  very  recently  dried,  before 
their  more  volatile  parts  have  escaped. 


,.  i^  .>  .  « 


72  MAGNOLIA  CJLAUCA. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Magnolia  glauca,  Liiv.  Sp.  pi.— Michaux,  i.  323. — Ptjrsh, 
ii.  381. — ^MicHAux,  rix.  Arb.  foresU  iii.  77. — Magnolia  lauri 
folio  subtus  albicante.  Catesbt,  Car.  i,  t.  39. — Trew,  sel.  t.  9. 
— DiLLENius,  Rort.  £0r.  1 168,  /.  205. — Laurus  tulipifera  &c. — 
Raius,  hist.  1690. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 
Kaim,  Travels,  i.  205. — Marshall,  Arbustum,  83. — ^Hum- 
phries, Med.  Commentaries^  vol.  xviii. — Bart.  Coll.  46. — Price, 
Inaugural  Diss.  Philad.  1812. 

PLATE  XXVII. 

Fig.  1.  .R  flowering  branch  of  Magnolia  glauca. 
Fig.  2.  The  fruit  and  seeds. 
Fig.  3.  Stamen  magnified. 
Fig.  4,  A  germ  and  style  ditto. 


/ 


I 


mi^9i. 


COBNUS  FLOEIDA. 


Logwooih 


PLATE  XXVlIh 


T 


HE  family  of  Cornels,  if  surveyed  bj  oth- 
er eyes  than  those  of  botanists,  is  remarkable 
for  the  difference  of  growth  and  appearance  of  its 
various  species.  Many  of  them  are  shrubs  ;  a  few 
attain  to  the  stature  of  trees,  while  some  are  so 
humble  in  their  growth  as  to  be  deemed  hardly 
more  than  herbaceous.  A  part  have  their  flowers 
surrounded  with  a  fine  white  involucrum,  many 
tioies  exceeding  the  whole  bunch  in  magnitude  5 
while  others  present  their  naked  cymes  unadorn- 
ed by  any  investment.  To  the  botanical  observer 
they  all  exhibit  a  close  affinity  and  resemblance  to 
each  other ;  which  is  seen  in  the  form  and  anatom- 
ical texture  of  their  leaves,  the  structure  of  their 
flowers  and  the  appearance  of  their  fruit, 
10 


74  CORNCJS  FLORIDA. 

The  Cormis  florida,  or  flowering  Dogwood,  is 
the  largest  and  most  splendid  of  its  genus,  and  is 
one  of  the  chief  ornaments  of  our  forests.  As  a  tree 
it  is  rather  below  the  middle  stature,  not  usually 
reaching  the  height  of  more  than  twenty  or  thirty 
feet.  It  is  however  among  the  most  conspicuous 
objects  in  the  forests,  in  the  months  of  April,  May 
and  June,  according  to  its  latitude,  being  then 
covered  with  a  profusion  of  its  large  and  ele- 
gant flowers.  In  Massachusetts,  especially  about 
Boston,  it  is  not  a  common  tree,  only  scatter- 
ed individuals  appearing  here  and  there  in  the 
woods.  In  the  Middle  States  it  is  extremely  com- 
mon, especially  in  moist  woods.  Michaux  informs 
us,  that  in  the  Carolinas,  Georgia  and  the  Floridas 
it  is  found  only  on  the  borders  of  swamps,  and 
never  in  the  pine  barrens,  where  the  soil  is  too 
dry  and  sandy  to  sustain  its  vegetation.  It  is  al- 
so not  very  common  in  the  most  fertile  parts  of 
the  Western  States,  being  chiefly  found  where  the 
soil  is  of  secondary  quality.* 

*  Mr.  William  Bartram,  in  his  travels  in  Georgia  and  Floridajgives 
the  following  account  of  the  appearance  of  this  tree  near  the  banks  of 
the  Alabama  river.  *'  We  now  entered  a  very  remarkable  grove  of 
Dogwood  trees,  f  CornusJiorida,J  which  continued  nine  or  ten  miles 
unalterable,  except  here  and  there  a  towering  Magnolia  grandijiora. 
The  land  on  which  they  stand  is  an  exact  level ;  the  surface  a  shallow, 
loose,  black  mould,  on  a  stratum  of  stiff,  yellowish  clay.    These  trees 


-% 


DOGWOOD.  77 

In  a  valuable  inaugural  dissertation  on  tlie 
CornuS  florida  and  Cornus  sericea  by  Dr.  Walker 
of  Virginia,  much  attention  appears  to  have  been 
bestowed  on  the  chemical  properties  of  their  bark. 
He  found  that  water  distilled  from  the  bark  in 
powder  had  a  transparent,  whitish  appearance, 
with  a  slight  aromatic  odour,  and  no  perceptible 
taste.  When  the  heat  was  increased,  the  fluid 
had  a  lemon  colour,  with  an  unpleasant  smell  and 
an  acerb  taste.  These  effects  were  probably  pro- 
duced by  the  volatilization  and  partial  decompo- 
sition of  portions  of  the  bark  in  consequence  of 
the  heat  being  continued  until  the  mixture  was 
evaporated  nearly  to  dryness. 

With  a  view  to  ascertain  the  effect  of  different 
menstrua.  Dr.  Walker  subjected  to  experiment  the 
residual  mass  furnished  by  evaporating  a  decoc- 
tion of  the  root  of  Cornus  florida.  Two  drachms 
of  this  residuum,  which  had  been  furnished  by 
seven  and  an  half  ounces  of  the  decoction,  were 
macerated  in  successive  quantities  of  the  best  al- 
cohol, until  the  last  portion  ceased  to  be  changed 
in  colour  and  taste.  The  part,  which  remained 
undissolved,  weighed  only  half  a  drachm.  When 
redissolved  it  was  destitute  of  taste,  and  underwent 
no  change  of  colour  on  adding  the  test  of  iron. 
The  alcohol,  which  had  been  employed  in  the  ex- 


78  CORNUS  FLORIDA. 

periment,  was  found  to  possess  an  intensely  bitter 
taste  with  astringency,  of  a  clear  red  colour,  and 
turning  to  a  deep  black  on  the  addition  of  iron. 
On  evaporation,  it  yielded  a  drachm  and  an  half  of 
residuum. — Dr.  Walker  attempted  to  ascertain  the 
quantity  of  resin  by  macerating  the  alcoholic  ex- 
tract in  repeated  portions  of  sulphuric  ether. 
The  ether  acquired  a  dark  colour  and  a  bitter 
taste,  and  was  found  to  have  dissolved  three  quar- 
ters of  the  extract.  When  tested  with  iron,  it  was 
found  that  the  remaining  quarter  only  was  chang- 
ed to  a  black  colour. 

The  Cornus  florida  is  one  of  the  many  vege- 
tables wliich,  by  the  union  of  their  gallic  acid  with 
the  salts  of  iron,  form  a  black  compound,  applica- 
ble to  the  purposes  of  ink.  The  constancy  of 
the  black  colour  thus  produced  varies  greatly,  ac- 
cording to  the  substance  from  which  the  gallic 
acid  is  derived.  It  is  often  extremely  fugacious, 
sometimes  fading  in  a  few  days,  and  at  others  be- 
coming indistinct  after  some  weeks  or  months. 
Considering  the  very  great  importance  of  the  pur- 
poses for  which  ink  is  employed,  and  the  immense 
evils  which  may  result  from  its  obliteration  in  writ- 
ings intended  for  permanency  ;  it  is  with  extreme 
caution  that  we  should  recommend  the  introduction 
of  any  change  in  the  mode  of  its  formation.     The 


DOGWOOD.  79 

oak  gall  has  had  the  experience  of  ages  in  favour 
of  its  permanence  and  immutability.  It  is  not 
until  some  indigenous  article,  producing  au  equal 
intensity  of  colour,  has  undergone  a  series  of  tri- 
als from  time  and  exposure,  sufficient  to  establish 
beyond  a  doubt  its  durability,  that  its  substitution 
in  the  manufacture  of  ink  should  be  considered 
expedient  or  even  justifiable. 

Upon  the  human  body  the  bark  of  the  Cornus 
florid  a  acts  as  a  tonic,  an  astringent  and  an  anti- 
septic, approaching  in  its  general  effects  to  the 
character  of  the  Peruvian  bark.  From  a  variety 
of  experiments  made  by  Dr.  Walker  upon  the 
healthy  system,  it  was  found  that  this  medicine 
uniformly  increased  the  force  and  frequency  of 
the  pulse,  and  augmented  the  heat  of  the  body. 
Collateral  experiments  were  made  at  the  same 
time  with  the  Peruvian  bark,  with  which  the  Cor- 
nus appeared  to  agree  both  in  its  internal  and  ex- 
ternal effects. 

In  disease  it  has  been  principally  employed  in 
the  same  cases  for  which  the  cinchona  is  resorted 
to,  particularly  intermittent  and  remittent  fever, 
iJr.  Gregg  of  Pennsylvania,  cited  by  Dr.  Walker, 
states,  that  after  employing  the  Cornus  florida  ha- 
bitually for  twenty  three  years  in  the  treatment  of 
iiitermittents,  he  was  satisfied  that  it  was  not  in- 


BO  CORNLS  FLORIDA, 

ferior  to  the  Peruvian  bark  as  a  means  of  care  ia 
such  cases.  Among  the  number  of  cures  by  this 
medicine,  was  tliat  of  his  own  case.  He  observ- 
ed that  in  its  recent  state  it  sometimes  disagreed 
with  the  stomach  and  bowels,  but  that  this  ten- 
dency  in  the  article  was  corrected  by  age.  He 
recommends  the  bark  as  being  in  the  best  state 
after  it  has  been  dried  a  year. 

Other  medical  men  have  employed  the  bark 
of  this  tree  with  advantage  in  intermittents,  and 
also  in  continued  fevers  of  the  typhoid  type.  Its 
tonic  operation  in  these  cases  appears  very  analo- 
gous to  that  of  the  Peruvian  bark. 

I  have  employed  the  tincture  of  Cornus  flori- 
da  as  a  stomachic  in  various  instances  of  loss  of 
appetite  and  indigestion.  The  report  of  those 
who  have  taken  it  has  perhaps  been  as  frequently 
in  favour  of  its  effects,  as  of  gentian,  columbo,  and 
the  other  imported  tonics  of  the  shops,  though 
perhaps  it  is  somewhat  more  liable  to  offend  the 
stomach  in  large  doses.  In  the  Southern  States 
a  decoction  of  the  buds  and  twigs  has  been  thought 
to  agree  better  with  weak  stomachs,  than  the  oth- 
er preparations. 

Some  other  species  of  this  family  resemble  the 
present  tree  in  the  bitterness  and  tonic  power  of 
tlieir  bark,  particularly  the  Cornus  circinata  and 
C.  sericea. 


i30GW00D.  81 

The  wood  of  the  Cornus  florida  is  hard,  heavy 
and  fine  grained,  and  susceptible  of  a  good  pol- 
ish. It  is  employed  for  various  purposes  where 
strength  and  solidity  are  required,  although  its 
small  size  does  not  permit  it  to  be  used  for  ob- 
jects of  much  magnitude.  From  its  hardness  it 
is  found  peculiarly  useful  for  handles  of  instru- 
ments, the  teeth  of  wheels,  and  the  smaller  parts 
of  wooden  machinery. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Conius  florida,  Liw.  Sp.pl. — Gron^ovitjs,  Virg.  17.— -Kaxm, 
•travels,  ii.  321. — Wastgenheim,  Amer.  p.  51,  t.  17. — L'Heri- 
TiEE,  Corn,  n.  3.— Schmidt,  Jirh.  t.  62 — Botanical  Mag.  t.  526. 
— -PuRSH,  i.  108. — ^MiCHAUx,  FiL.  ArbresforestierSs  iii.  138,  trans- 
latedf  i.  255. — Eliiott,  Car.  i.  207. — Cornus  mas  Virginianaj 
kc. — .Pltjkenet,  Mm.  120,  t.  %J.  3. — Catesby,  Car.  t.  27. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

-Walkee,  Inaugural  Disseftatmh  Philail.  1303. — EAFiT.  Colt. 
12. — .THACHEa,  Disp.  203. — Elliott,  ut  supra. 

■    PLATE  XXVIII. 

Fig,  1.  Cornus  fiorMa,  a  braiidi  witlijiowers,  and  one  with  havts. 
Fig.  2.  Fruit. 
Fis:.  S.  A  Hower. 


PA]^Ax  auiisrauEFOLimi. 


Ginseng. 


TLJITE  XXIX. 

N  the  early  part  of  the  eighteenth  century 
some  accounts  were  sent  to  Europe  hy  travellers 
and  missionaries,  of  a  root  growing  in  Chinese 
Tartary,  known  by  the  name  of  Ginsengs  upon 
which  a  \\m\\  value  was  set  bv  the  eastern  Asiat- 
ics,  and  which  was  sold  in  the  cities  of  China  at  an 
enormous  price.  Father  Jartoux,  a  missionary  at 
Pekin,  who  had  an  opportunity  of  witnessing  the 
collection  and  use  of  this  root,  made  a  drawing  of 
the  plant,  accompanied  with  a  particular  descrip- 
tion, and  an  account  of  its  uses,  and  the  cause  of 
its  high  estimation  and  demand  among  the  Chi- 
nese. While  on  a  journey  among  the  mountains 
of  Tartary,  performed  under  the  sanction  of  the 
emperor  of  China,  he  met  in  various  instances 


-.«,-•?.-' 


4      f    i 


3CJ 


ii 

i 

iocnth 


ulClii*.^ 


".ne 


GINSENG,  85 

If  any  one  of  the  company  ^vas  wanting,  as  it 
often  happened,  either  hy  having  wandered  oat  of 
the  way,  or  being  attacked  by  wild  beasts,  the 
party  devoted  a  day  or  two  to  search  for  him,  and 
then  returned  to  their  labour. 

The  root  of  the  Ginseng  is  the  only  part  pre- 
served. The  collectors  bury  in  the  ground  every 
ten  or  fifteen  days  all  that  they  have  procured. 
In  order  to  prepare  it  for  use,  they  dip  it  in  scald- 
ing water,  and  scour  it  with  a  brush.  The  roots 
ai*e  then  prepared  with  the  fumes  of  a  species  of 
millet,  to  give  them  a  yellow  colour.  The  millet 
is  put  in  a  vessel  with  a  little  water  and  boiled 
over  a  gentle  fire.  The  roots  are  placed  over  the 
vessel  upon  transverse  pieces  of  wood,  being  first 
covered  with  a  linen  cloth  or  another  vessel. 
When  treated  in  this  way  they  assume  upon  dry- 
ing a  horny  or  semi-trans parant  appearance. 

The  roots  may  also  be  dried  in  the  sun,  or  by 
the  fire,  and  retain  their  qualities  perfectly.  In 
this  case,  however,  they  have  not  that  yellow  col- 
our, which  the  Chinese  so  much  admire. 

The  Chinese  consider  the  Ginseng  as  possessing 
unequalled  medicinal  powers,  antl  their  physicians 
have  written  many  volumes  upon  the  qualities  of 
the  plant.     It  is  made  an  ingredient  in  almost  all 
the  remedies  which  they  ^ive  to  their  nobility,  its 


86  PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 

price  being'  too  expensive  for  the  common  people* 
The  sick  take  it  to  recover  health,  and  the  healthy 
to  make  themselves  stronger  and  more  vigorous. 
They  affirm  that  it  removes  all  fatigue,  either  of 
body  or  mind,  dissolves  humours,  cures  pulmona- 
ry diseases,  strengthens  the  stomach,  increases 
tlie  vital  spirits,  and  prolongs  life  to  old  age.  [ts 
price  at  Pekin,  according  to  travellers,  has  been 
eight  or  nine  times  its  weight  in  silver,  and  even 
more. 

Father  Jartoux  became  so  far  a  convert  to  the 
virtues  of  the  plant,  that  he  tells  us  that  after  hav- 
ing taken  half  of  a  root,  he  found  his  pulse  quick- 
er and  fuller,  iiis  appetite  improved,  and  his 
strength  increased  so  as  to  bear  labour  better 
than  before.  On  another  occasion,  finding  liim- 
self  so  fatigued  and  wearied  as  to  be  scarce  able 
to  sit  on  horseback,  a  mandarin  in  company  per- 
ceiving his  distress,  gave  one  of  the  roots.  He 
took  half  of  it,  and  in  an  hour  was  not  sensible 
of  any  weariness.  "I  have  observed,"  says  he, 
"  that  the  green  leaves,  especially  the  fibrous  part 
of  them,  when  chewed,  would  produce  nearly  the 
same  effect.  The  Tartars  often  bring  us  the 
leaves  of  Ginseng  instead  of  tea,  and  I  always 
find  myself  so  well  afterwards,  that  I  should  read- 
ily prefer  them  before  the  best  tea.     Their  de- 


GINSENG.  87" 

coction  is  of  a  grateful  colour,  and  when  one  has 
taken  it  twice  or  tlmce,  its  taste  and  smell  be- 
come very  pleasant.'' 

The  Chinese  use  a  decoction  of  the  root,  for 
which  they  employ  about  a  fifth  part  of  an  ounce 
at  a  time.  This  they  boil  in  a  covered  vessel 
with  two  successive  portions  of  water,  in  order  to 
extract  all  its  virtue. 

The  following  is  the  substance  of  Jartoux's  de- 
scription of  the  Asiatic  plant.  The  root  is  whit- 
ish, rugged  and  uneven.  The  stalk  is  round,  and 
shaded  with  red ;  it  terminates  in  a  knot  or  joint 
at  top,  from  which  proceed  four  equal  branches. 
Each  branch  produces  five  leaves,  which  are  equi- 
distant from  each  other,  and  from  the  ground. 
The  leaves  are  unusually  thin  and  fine,  with  their 
fibres  very  distinguishable,  and  a  few  whitish  hairs 
on  the  upper  side.  Their  colour  is  dark  green 
above,  and  a  pale,  shining  green  underneath.  All 
the  leaves  are  serrated  or  finely  indented  on  the 
edge, — From  the  centre  of  the  branches  rises  a 
second  stalk  which  is  very  straight  and  smooth, 
and  whitish  from  bottom  to  top,  bearing  a  bunch 
of  round  fruit,  of  a  beautiful  red  colour,  composed 
of  twenty  four  red  berries.  The  red  skin  of  the 
berry  is  thin  and  smooth,  and  contains  a  white 
pulp.     As  these  berries  were  double,  (for  they 


88  PANAX  Q.UINQ.UEPOLIUM. 

are  sometimes  found  single,)  each  of  tliem  had 
two  rough  stones,  separated  from  each  other,  of 
nearly  the  size  and  figure  of  common  lentils. 
The  herries  were  supported  on  small  sprigs, 
•which  rose  from  a  common  centre  like  the  rays  of 
a  sphere.  The  fruit  is  not  good  to  eat.  The  ber- 
ries are  not  round  but  a  little  flat  on  each  side. 
When  they  are  double  there  is  a  depression  or 
hollow  place  in  the  middle  where  the  two  parts 
unite.  Each  berry  has  a  small  beard  at  top  dia- 
metrically opposite  to  the  sprig  on  which  it  hangs. 
When  the  berry  is  dry  there  remains  only  a  shrivel- 
led skin,  adhering  close  to  tbe  stones,  of  a  dark 
red,  or  black  colour. 

The  plant  dies  away  and  springs  up  again 
every  year.  The  number  of  years  may  be  known 
by  the  number  of  stalks  it  has  shot  fortb,  of  which 
there  always  remains  a  mark  or  scar  on  the  up- 
per pai't  of  the  root. 

"As  to  the  flower,''  says  he,  "not  liaving  seen 
it,  I  can  give  no  description  of  it.  Some  say  it  is 
white  and  very  small;  others  have  assured  me 
that  the  plant  has  none,  and  that  nobody  ever  saw 
it.  I  rather  believe  that  it  is  so  small  and  so  little 
remarkable,  that  none  of  tb.em  ever  took  notice 
of  it. 


GINSENG.  89 

"  There  are  some  plants,  Avhich,  besides  the 
bunch  of  berries,  have  one  or  two  berries  like  the 
former,  placed  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  an  half  be- 
low the  bunch.  And  when  this  happens,  they 
say  if  any  one  takes  notice  of  the  point  of  compass 
to  which  these  berries  direct,  he  will  not  fail  to 
find  more  of  the  plant." 

The  foregoing  description  of  Jartoux  is  intro- 
duced as  being  a  very  iotelligible  description  of 
a  plant,  in  language  not  the  most  botanical.  The 
drawing,  which  accompanies  the  description,  is 
verv  satisfactory. 

The  report  of  the  high  value  of  the  Ginseng  at 
Peldn  led  to  an  inquiry  among  Europeans,  wheth- 
er the  plant  was  not  to  be  found  in  parallel  lati- 
tudes, in  the  forests  of  Xorth  America.  Father 
Lafiteau,  a  Jesuit,  missionary  among  the  Iroquois, 
after  much  search,  found  a  plant  in  Canada  an- 
swering the  description,  and  sent  it  to  France. 
In  17 18,  M.  Sarrasin  published  in  the  Memoirs  of 
the  Academy  an  account  of  the  American  Gin- 
seng ;  which,  together  v.  ith  one  published  by  Laf- 
iteau the  same  year,  seemed  to  put  its  identity 
vdth  the  Chinese  vescetable  bevond  a  doubt. 

Soon  after  this   the  French  commenced  the 
collection  of  the  root  in  Canada  for  exportation. 
For  this  purpose  they  employed  the  Indians.  \v!io 
12 


90  PANAX  QUINQUEJPOLIUM. 

brought  it  to  tlie  mercliants  for  a  certain  com- 
pensation. At  one  period  the  Indians  about  Que- 
bec and  Montreal  were  so  wholly  taken  up  in  the 
search  for  Ginseng,  that  their  services  could  not 
be  engaged  for  any  other  purpose.  The  Ameri- 
can English  engaged  in  the  same  traffic,  and  al- 
though the  plant  is  a  rare  one  in  the  woods,  yet 
very  large  quantities  of  the  root  were  collected. 
In  1748,  Kalm  tells  us  the  common  price  of  the 
root  at  Quebec  was  from  five  to  six  livres  a  pound. 
The  first  shipments  to  China  proved  extremely 
profitable  to  those  concerned,  especially  to  the 
French.  In  a  short  time,  however,  the  amount 
exported  overstocked  the  market,  the  Chinese  be- 
gan to  think  the  American  Ginseng  inferior  to 
the  Tartarian,  and  its  value  depreciated,  so  that  it 
ceased  to  be  an  object  of  profitable  commerce. 
Its  demand  has  not  materially  risen  at  any  subse- 
quent period,  although  it  is  still  occasionally  ex- 
ported. The  Chinese  most  readily  purchase  the 
forked  or  branching  roots  ;  and  those  exporters 
have  been  most  successful,  who  have  prepared 
their  Ginseng  by  clarifying  it  after  the  Chinese 
manner. 

The  American  Ginseng  is  thinly  scattered 
throughout  the  mountainous  regions  of  the  North- 
ern and  Middle  States.     Kalm  informs  us,  that  it 


GINSENG.  91 

is  seldom  found  north  of  Montreal.  Miehanx 
states  that  it  inhabits  mountains  and  rich,  shady 
woods  from  Canada  to  Tennessee.  I  have  princi- 
pally met  with  this  plant  in  the  western  parts  of 
Massachusetts,  and  in  Vermont,  especially  on  the 
sides  of  the  Ascutney  mountain.  Bertram  found 
it  near  the  mouth  of  the  Delaware. 

Linnsgiis  has  given  to  the  genus  of  plants, 
which  includes  the  Ginseng,  the  name  of  Panacv^ 
a  Greek  word,  intended  to  express  the  reputed 
character  of  the  Chinese  pcnicicea. 

The  character  of  this  genus  consists  in  a  sim- 
ple nmhel ;  corolla  jive  petaUed;  herry  iiiferior, 
two  or  three  seeded;  plants  polygamous . 

The  species  quinquefoUum  has  three  qidnate 
lea.ves. 

The  root  of  this  plant  consists  of  one  or  more 
fleshy,  oblong  and  somewhat  fusiform  portions,  of 
a  whitish  colour,  transversely  wrinkled,  and  ter- 
minating in  various  radicles.  Its  upper  portion 
is  slender  and  marked  with  the  scars  of  the  former 
shoots.  Stem  smooth,  round,  green,  with  often  a 
tinge  of  red,  regularly  divided  at  top  into  three 
petioles,  witli  a  flower-stalk  at  their  centre.  Peti- 
oles round,  smooth,  swelling  at  base.  Leaves 
three,  compound,  containing  five,  rarely  three  or 
seven  leafets.     The  partial  leaf-stalks   are   given 


92  PANAX  QtllNQUEFOLIUM. 

off  in   a  digitate  manner,  and  are  smooth,  com- 
pressed and  farrowed  above.     Leafets  oblong,  ob- 
ovate,  sharply  serrate,  acuminate,  smooth  on  both 
sides,  with  scattered  bristles  on  the  veins   above. 
The  flowers,  which  are  small,  grow  in  a  simple 
umbel  on  a  round,  slender  peduncle,  longer  than 
the  petioles.     The  involucrum  consists  of  a  mul- 
titude of  short  subulate  leafets,  interspersed  with 
the  flower-stalks.     These  stalks  or   rays   are   so 
short  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  a  head,  rath- 
er than  umbel.     In  the  perfect  flowers  the  calyx 
has  five  small  acute  teeth  ;  the  corolla  five  petals, 
"which  are  oval,  reflexed    and    deciduous.       Sta- 
mens five,  with  oblong  anthers.     Styles   two,  re- 
flexed,    persistent ;    germ  large,    inferior,   ovate- 
heart  shaped,  compressed.     The  berries  are  kid- 
ney shaped,  retuse  at  both  ends,  compressed,  of  a 
bright  scarlet  colour,  crowned  with  the  calyx  and 
styles,   and   containing  two   semi-circular  seeds. 
In  most  umbels  there  are   flowers  with  only  one 
style,  in  which  case  the  berry  has  a  semi-cordate 
form,  as  represented  in  fig.  3.     Sometimes  there 
are  three  styles  and  three  seeds.     The  outermost 
flowers  ripen  first,  and  their  berries  often  obtain 
their  full  size  before  the  central  ones  are  expand- 
ed.    The  middle  flowers  are  frequently  abortive. 


GINSENG.  *  93 

There  are  also  barren  flowers,  on  sepai'ate 
plants,  which  botanists  describe  as  having  hirger 
petals,  and  an  entire  calyx.  I  have  not  met  with 
plants  of  this  description  in  flower. 

The  foregoing  character  leaves  little  donbt 
that  the  American  plant  is  precisely  the  same 
with  the  Asiatic,  although  Loureiro  and  some  oth- 
ers have  disputed  their  identity.  The  description 
of  Jartoux,  which  has  been  given,  as  well  as  his 
drawing  of  the  plant,  agrees  in  every  respect,  ex- 
cept that  his  plant  had  four  branches  or  leaves, 
instead  of  three.  This  is  accounted  for  by  sup- 
posing he  had  chosen  a  luxuriant  specimen. — It 
is  somewhat  remarkable  that  the  names  of  the 
Chinese,  and  of  the  North  American  Indians, 
should  signify  the  same  thing  in  their  respective 
languages,  viz.  a  resemblance  to  the  figure  of  a 
man.  This  resemblance,  however,  it  must  be  con- 
fessed, even  in  the  branching  roots,  is  rather  of  a 
humble  kind. 

The  genus  Panax  was  placed  by  Linnaeus  in 
his  class  Polygamm,  and  by  late  writers  in  Pen- 
tandria^  Bigynia,  The  plants  of  this  f^imily  were 
also  referred  by  Linnaeus  to  his  natural  order 
Ilederacew,  or  somewhat  heterogeneous  assem- 
'  blage  of  vegetables  ;  antl  by  Jussieu  to  his  Araliw. 
Later  botanists  have  placed  them  among  the  Um- 


94  PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM. 

helUferoiLS  vegetables,  from  which  they  differ  ill 
their  berried  fruit.  The  ^eniis  most  near  to  Pa- 
Dax  is  unquestionably  Aralia,  which  differs  only 
in  the  number  of  styles,  a  character  extremely  Aa- 
liable  in  the  Ginsengs.* 


.g. 


Tlie  root  of  the  Ginseng  has  an  agreeable 
taste,  consisting  of  a  mixture  of  sweet  and  bitter, 
with  some  aromatic  pungency.  Water,  both  cohl 
and  hot,  receives  a  gummy  mucus,  which  is  pre- 
cipitated by  alcohol.  The  watery  extract  has  the 
taste  and  smell  of  the  root  in  a  strong  degree. 
The  distilled  water  gives  evidence  of  a  volatile  oil, 
and  has  the  aroma,  without  the  sweetness  of  the 
root.  The  common  tests  indicate  the  presence 
of  but  little  resin,  and  no  tannin. 

As  far  as  Ginseng  has  been  tried  medicinally 
in  this  country,  and  in  Europe,  its  virtues  do  not 
appear,  by  any  means,  to  justify  the  high  estima- 
tion of  it  by  the  Chinese.  That  it  is  not  a  very 
active  substance,  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  a 
whole  root  may  be  eaten  without  inconvenience. 
Its  place  in  the  materia  mcdica  is  among  demul- 
cents. It  approaches  more  nearly  to  liquorice, 
than  to  any  other  uiedicine  in  its  taste  and  exter- 

*  Panax  trifoliiim,  a  beautiful  little  plant,  with  nearly  the  herb  of 
Anemone  nemorosa,  has  always  three  styles  and  a  tricoccous  ber- 
ry. P.  quinquefolium  varies  from  one  to  three  styles,  though  the 
usual  number  is  two. 


GINSENG.  ^O 

iial  qualities.  Its  extract  forms  a  very  neat  pre- 
paration, and  is  by  no  means  unpleasant  to  the 
taste.  Dr.  Fotliergill  tells  us,  that  "  iu  tedious 
chronic  coughs,  incident  to  people  in  years,  a  de- 
coction of  it  has  been  of  service.  It  consists  of  a 
lubricating  mucilage  combined  with  some  degree 
of  aromatic  warmth.'' 

Crinseng  is  principally  sold  by  our  druggists 
as  a  masticatory,  many  people  having  acquired  an 
habitual  fondness  for  chewing  it.  It  is  certainly 
one  of  the  most  innocent  articles  for  this  purpose. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Panax  quinquefolium,  Lin.  sp.  pi. — Michaux,  Florae  ii.  256. 
■— PuE-SH,  i.  191. — WooDviuLE,  Med,  Bot.  i.  t,  58. — Botanical 
Mag.  t,  1023. — Aureliana  Canadensis,  Catesby,  Car.  Suppl.  t. 
16.' — Bretnius  in  Prod,  rar,  p.  52. — Araliastrum  foliis  ternis 
quinquepartitis,  Ginseng  sen  Ninsin  officinarum. — Tkew,  Ehr. 
f.  6,/.  1. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

BouRDELiJT,  Hist,  de  VJlcad.  1797. — Jartoux,  tr.  in  Phil.  Trans. 
xxviii.  237.— Lafiteau,  Memoires  concernant  la  precieuse  plante 
de  Ginseng.  Paris,  1718. — Sarrasin,  Hist.  Acad.  1718. — Kaxm, 
travels,  tr.  iii.  114. — Osbeck,  China,  p.  145. — Heberdeiv,  Med, 
Trans,  iii.  34. — Fothergill,  Gent.  Mag.  xxiii.  209. — Cuxlen^, 
Mat.  Med.  Vol.  ii.  &c. 


9(5  PANAX  QUINQUEFOLIUM, 

PLATE  XXIX. 

Fig.  1.  Panax  quinquefolium. 

Fig.  2.  A  Jiower  magnified. 

Fig.  3.  JJmUl  in  jloxver,  the  external  fruit  nearly  grown. 

Fig.  4.  Germ,  calyx  and  styles  magmfied. 

Fig.  5.  Root. 


? 


0i)     lAJ) 


«.  ..^  .  -* 


J..* 


'/ 


•i(  ^'fi 


J 


/ 


T, 


as  fall 


m, 


.1 


r 


FOLYG-ALA  SENEGA, 


Seneca  Snake  root. 


PLATE  XXX. 

HE  Seneca  snake  root  lias  attracted  so  gen- 
eral an  attention  from  the  medical  public,  as  to 
have  become  an  article  of  exportation  to  Europe, 
and  one  which  holds  a  regular  place  in  the  drug- 
gist stores.  The  plant  which  produces  it  has 
nothing  to  boast  on  the  score  of  elegance,  and 
little  to  attract  attention  independent  of  its  me- 
dicinal virtues.  It  grows  in  most  latitudes  of  the 
United  States,  especially  in  the  mountainous  tracts. 
The  specimen,  from  which  our  drawing  was  taken, 
was  .gathered  on  the  borders  of  Lake  Champlain. 
Tile  genus  Polygala  has  a  jive  leaved  calyoc^ 
two  of  the  leaves  wing  like,  and  coloured.  Capsule 
ohcordate,  two  celled,  and  two  valved. 
13 


98  POLYGALA    SENEGA. 

The  species  Senega  has  erect,  smooth,  simple 
stems,  with  alternate,  lanceolate  leaves,  broadest  at 
base.     Flowers  slightly  crested. 

Class  Biadelphia,  order  Octandria;  natural 
orders  Loment  ace  as,  Jjinn.  Fediculares,  Juss. 

The  Poljgala  senega  has  a  firm,  hard,  branch- 
ing perennial  root,  consisting  of  a  moderately  solid 
wood,  and  a  thick  bark.  This  root  sends  up  a 
number  of  annual  stems,  which  are  simple,  smooth, 
occasionally  tinged  with  red.  The  leaves  are 
scattered,  nearly  or  quite  sessile,  lanceolate,  with 
a  subacute  point,  smooth,  paler  underneath.  Flow- 
ers white,  in  a  close  terminal  spike.  1  he  calyx, 
which  in  this  genus  is  the  most  conspicuous  part 
cf  the  flower,  consists  of  five  leafets,  the  two  larg- 
est of  which,  or  wings,  are  roundish-ovate,  white, 
and  slightly  veined.  Corolla  small,  closed,  having 
two  obtuse  lateral  segments,  and  a  short  crested 
extremity.  Capsules  obcordate,  invested  by  the 
persistent  calyx,  compressed,  two  celled,  two 
valved.  Seeds  two  oblong-obovate,  acute  at  one 
end,  slightly  hairy,  curved,  blackish,  with  a  longi- 
tudinal, bifid,  white  appendage  on  the  concave  side. 
The  spike  opens  gradually,  so  that  the  lower  flow- 
ers ai'ein  fruit  while  the  upper  ones  are  in  blos- 
som. 


SENECA    SNAKE    ROOT.  101 

mentin  these  cases,  among  whom  are  Lemery  and 
others,  in  the  Memoirs  of  the  French  Academy. 
It  has  been  found  injurious,  from  its  stimulating 
properties,  when  given  at  too  early  a  stage,  or 
during  the  prevalence  of  much  acute  inflamma- 
tion. 

Benefit  has  been  derived  in  asthma  from  the 
use  of  this  plant.  The  following  is  Dr.  Bree's 
opinion,  quoted  from  his  treatise  on  that  disease. 
"  Decoction  of  seneka  is  eminently  useful  in  the 
first  species,  administered  to  old  people,  but  in  the 
paroxysm  of  young  persons,  I  have  found  it  too 
irritating.  This  distinction  applies  to  convulsive 
asthma  purely  uncomplicated,  but  the  disease  is 
frequently  observed  in  middle  aged  and  elderly 
persons,  to  take  the  character  of  peripneumonia 
notha  in  the  winter  and  spring,  and  seneka  is  then 
the  most  useful  medicine  that  I  have  tried.  In 
such  cases,  it  should  be  united  with  acetated  am- 
monia, during  the  febrile  state,  and  as  this  state 
gives  way,  the  adtlition  of  squill,  and  camphorated 
tincture  of  opium,  will  be  found  to  pi'omote  ex- 
pectoration, perspiration,  and  urine  in  a  most 
powerful  manner." 

In  croup,  this  medicine  was  introduced  into 
notice  by  Dr.  Archer  of  Maryland.  He  speaks 
with  much  confidence  of  its  utility  in  that  disease, 


dOS  POLYGALA    SENEGA. 

particularly  in  promoting  the  separation  and  dis- 
charge of  the  membrane  formed  in  the  trachea  of 
patients  affected  by  it.  Such  a  membrane,  how- 
ever, does  not  exist  in  all  cases  of  croup.  And 
in  the  early  part  of  the  complaint  it  may  be  ques- 
tioned, how  far  a  medicine,  which  acts  as  a  stimu- 
lant to  the  fauces  and  neighbouring  organs,  is  en- 
titled to  reliance,  in  a  local  inflammation  of  the 
trachea.  It  ought  not  from  such  a  reliance  to 
exclude  more  active  remedies,  especially  vcec- 
section.  Dr.  Archer's  mode  of  administering  it 
is  to  give  a  tea-spoonful  of  a  strong  decoction 
every  hour  or  half  hour,  according  to  the  urgency 
of  the  symptoms,  and  during  the  intervals,  a  few 
drops  occasionally,  to  keep  up  a  sensible  action  of 
the  medicine  upon  the  mouth  and  throat,  until  it 
acts  as  an  emetic  or  cathartic. 

In  various  forms  of  dropsy,  the  Seneca  root 
has  been  resorted  to  with  advantage,  and  has  re- 
ceived the  commendations  of  Percival,  Millman, 
and  some  others.  Its  cathartic  and  diuretic  effects 
are  vei-y  considerable,  when  regularly  persevered 
in,  in  quantities  as  lai'ge  as  will  set  easily  on  the 
stomach  ;  and  have  in  various  instances  effected 
the  dissipation  of  dropsical  swellings. 

In  chronic  rheumatism,  this  root  sometimes 
does  good  by  its  universally  stimulant  and  diapho- 


SENECA    SNAKE    ROOT.  iOS 

retic  effects.  The  following  case  occurred  to  me 
some  time  since  in  practice.  A  man  labouring 
under  severe  rheumatism  was  ordered  to  take  at 
intervals  a  wine  glass  full  of  a  strong  decoction 
of  the  Senega  made  from  an  ounce  of  the  root  in 
a  pint  of  water.  The  patient,  from  a  desire  to 
expedite  the  cure,  thought  proper  to  drink  the 
whole  quantity  at  once.  The  consequence  was 
the  most  violent  vomiting  and  purging,  which 
lasted  the  whole  night,  accompanied  with  profuse 
diaphoresis.  The  patient,  as  might  have  been 
hoped  from  the  violence  of  the  operation,  was  rad- 
ically relieved  of  his  disorder. 

In  uterine  complaints,  particularly  amenorrhea, 
the  Polygala  senega  has  been  found  of  decided 
efficacy.  Dr.  Chapman  of  Philadelphia  is  one  of 
the  authorities  for  its  use  in  these  cases.  It  must 
be  given  largely,  and  continued  for  some  time. 

The  most  common  mode  of  exhibition  of  this 
root  is  in  decoction,  as  already  mentioned.  It  is 
also  given  in  pov/der  in  doses  of  twenty  or  thirty 
grains.  Dr.  Tennent  likewise  employed  a  wine 
of  Senega  made  by  digesting  four  ounces  of  the 
root  in  a  pound  of  wine,  of  which  three  spoonfuls 
were  given  at  a  dose. 


104  POLY  GALA    SENEGA.  \ 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Polygala  senega,  Liiv.  Sp,  pL  Walter,  Car  178. — Wood- 
viLLE,  ii.  t.  93. — Bot.  Mug.  t.  1051. — Michatjx,  ii.  53. — Pursh, 
ii.464.' — 'Polygala  caule  simplici  erecto,  &c.  Gronovius,  Virg.  80. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Tennent,  Biseases  of  Virginia. — Lemery,  Duhamei,  &c. 
HisU  de  VJlcad.  1739, 136. — Archer,  Med.  Sf  Phtjs.  Journal,  i.  83, 
106. — Percival,  Med.  Journal,  iv.  67.— Bree  on  Asthma,  258« 
— Massie,  Inaug.  Diss.  Fhilad.  1803. — Thacher,  Disjj.  319. — 
JV*.  Evg.  Journal,  vii.  206. 

PLATE  XXX. 

Fig.  1.  Polygala  senega. 
Fig.  2,  Jijlower  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  Calyx  of  the  same. 
Fig.  4.  Corolla  magnified* 
Fig.  5.  Capsule. 
Fig.  6.  Jlseed, 


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AMERICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY. 

LIRIODENDROX  TULIPIFERA. 

Tulip  Tree, 

PLATE  xxxi. 

J.  HE  vegetable  world  can  hardly  offer  a  more 
interesting  object,  than  a  tree  of  exalted  stature 
and  extensive  shade,  covered  with  a  beautiful  and 
singular  foliage,  putting  forth  from  its  boughs  an 
immense  number  of  large  and  variegated  flowers, 
at  the  same  time  that  its  trunk  affords  one  of  the 
most  useful  species  of  wood,  and  its  bark  an  aro- 
matic medicinal  agent.  Such  an  one  is  the  Tulip 
tree  of  the  United  States. 

The  forests  of  the  Middle  and  Western  States, 
according  to  the  representation  of  Michaux,  a- 
bound  with  the  Liriodendron  tulipifera,  as  do  like- 
wise the  elevated  parts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia. 
It  is  found  in  the  Kew  England  states,  but  is 
principally  confined  to  the  southern  parts  of  them. 


108  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

Cultivated  trees  are  common  in  Boston  and  its 
vicinity,  but  I  have  never  met  with  it  in  the  woods 
of  this  part  of  the  country,  nor  to  the  north  of  it 
upon  the  sea  hoard. 

In  point  of  size  the  Liriodendron  is  exceeded 
by  few  trees  of  the  !North  American  forest.  Its 
growth  is  regular,  straight  and  majestic.  Its  trunk 
often  acquires  a  diameter  of  from  two  to  three 
feet,  and  an  elevation  of  eighty  or  ninety.  In  fa- 
vourable situations  it  frequently  exceeds  these  di- 
mensions. Michaux  measured  a  tree  near  Louis- 
ville in  Kentucky,  which  at  five  feet  from  the 
ground  was  twenty  two  feet  and  an  half  in  circum- 
ference, and  which  he  estimated  to  be  a  hundred 
and  twenty  or  a  hundred  and  forty  feet  in  height. 
Catesby  informs  us  that  the  circumference  is 
sometimes  thirty  feet. 

The  names  of  Tulip  tree,  White  wood,  Canoe 
wood,  and  Poplar  are  applied  to  this  tree  in  diffe- 
rent parts  of  the  United  States.  Its  flowering 
tim^  is  in  the  months  of  May  and  June. 

The  genus  Liriodendron,  to  which  Linnseus 
has  assigned  four  species  of  trees,  is  characterized 
by  a  double  calyoc,  the  outer  of  two,  the  inner  of 
three  leaves  ;  petals  si^,  seeds  imbricated  into  a 
cone. 


TULIP  TREE.  Ill 

The  bark  of  the  Tulip  tree  has  a  very  bitter 
taste  and  a  strong  aromatic  pungency.  The  lat- 
ter property  appears  to  reside  in  a  volatile  oil. 
When  the  bark  is  distilled  with  water,  it  fills  the 
apartment  with  its  fragrant  odour,  yet  the  product 
of  the  distillation,  at  least  when  the  process  is  con- 
ducted in  the  small  way  with  the  luting  of  the  ap- 
paratus not  perfectly  tight,  has  scarcely  any  taste 
or  smell.  Dr.  Kogers  informs  us  that  he  obtain- 
ed an  oily  matter  in  th«  form  of  a  whitish  scum 
on  the  surface  of  the  water  in  the  receiver.  A 
bitter  resin  exists  in  small  quantities  in  the  bark. 
Water  dissolves  a  mucous  substance,  which  is 
precipitated  in  a  flocculent  form  by  alcohol.  Wa- 
ter is  also  impregnated  with  the  bitterness,  and, 
if  too  much  heat  be  not  employed,  with  some  of 
the  aroma  of  the  tree.  The  sulphate  of  iron  pro- 
duced a  dark  brown  colour,  but  a  solution  of  isin- 
glass did  not  increase  the  chemical  evidence  of 
astringency,  producing  a  barely  perceptible  effect. 
Alcohol  and  proof  spirit  may  be  considered  the 
most  perfect  solvents  of  the  active  ingredients  of 
this  article,  although  water  dissolves  enough  to 
produce  its  medicinal  effect. 

The  bark  both  of  the  root  and  branches  acts 
on  the  system  as  a  stimulating  tonic  and  diapho- 
retic, having  properties  resembling  the  Cascarilla 


113  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

and  other  aromatic  barks  of  the  shops.  The  dis- 
ease ia  which  it  has  been  most  employed  is  in- 
termittent fever.  But  the  triumph  which  results 
from  the  occasional  cure  of  this  disease  is  now  di- 
vided among  so  large  a  list  of  tonic  medicines, 
that  the  distinction  conferred  by  it  is  not  of  the 
most  signal  kind.  As  a  warm  sudorific,  this 
bark  seems  well  adapted  to  the  treatment  of 
chronic  rheumatism,  and  for  this  purpose  it  has 
been  employed  with  success  by  various  medical 
practitioners  in  the  United  States.  In  some  dis- 
eases of  an  inflammatory  type  in  which  it  has  been 
recommended,  its  stimulating  properties  render 
it  more  like  to  do  harm  than  good.  The  only 
personal  acquaintance  which  I  have  had  with  it, 
is  as  a  stomachic.  Administered  with  this  view, 
it  has  been  acceptable  and  apparently  useful  to 
patients  who  had  derived  occasional  benefit  from 
"  Huxham's  tincture,"  "  Stoughton's  elixir,''  and 
similar  compositions  of  bitter  and  aromatic  drugs. 
The  wood  of  the  Tulip  tree  is  smooth  and  fine 
grained,  very  easily  wrought  and  not  liable  to 
split.  It  is  used  for  various  kinds  of  carving  and 
ornamental  work,  and  for  articles  of  house  furni- 
ture. In  the  Western  States  where  pine  lumber 
is  scarce,  Michaux  tells  us,  that  the  joinery  or  in- 
side work  of  houses  is  most  frequently  of  this 


TULIP  TREE.  113 

material.  A  common  use  of  it  tliroughout  the 
United  States  is  in  the  manufacture  of  carriages 
to  form  the  pannels  of  coach  and  chaise  bodies. 
For  this  purpose  it  is  particularly  fitted  by  its 
smoothness,  flexibility  and  toughness.* 

The  true  or  heart  wood  of  this  tree  is  of  a  yel- 
lowish colour  and  differs  in  proportion  in  different 
trunks.  We  are  told  that  two  varieties  of  the 
tree  exist,  denominated  the  yellow  and  the  white, 
and  which  appear  to  be  in  some  measure  produc- 
ed by  the  mode  and  place  of  growth.  The  yellow 
variety  is  most  valuable,  having  least  alburnum 
and  being  less   subject  than  the  other  to   decay. 

The  Tulip  tree  has  been  long  since  introduc- 
ed from  this  country  into  the  forests  and  fields  of 
Europe.  Its  use,  ornamental  appearance,  and  the 
facility  with  v»  hicli  it  is  raised,  have  rendered  it  one 
of  the  most  prominent  and  interesting  objects  of 
forest  cultivation. 

*  The  various  economical  uses  of  this  tree  are  treated  of  at 
large  in  the  splendid  work  of  the  younger  Michaux  on  the  Forest 
trees  of  JS^orth  America.  Those  who  appreciate  the  value  of  a  cor- 
rect knowledge  of  the  various  internal  resources  of  our  country,  will 
be  gratified  that  a  translation  of  this  important  work,  with  the  origi- 
nal plates,  is  now  publishing  at  Paris  and  Philadelphia. 


i  14  LIRIODENDRON  TULIPIFERA. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Liriodendron  tulipifera,  LiivNieus,  Sp.  pi. — Curtis,  Bot. 
Mag.  t,  275. — MiCHAUX,  i.  526. — Michaux,  rii,  Arbresforesti- 
erSf  iii.  202. — Puesh,  ii.  382. — Liriodendron  foliis  angulatis  trun- 
catis,  Trew,  Ehret,  2.  t.  10.  Tulipifera  virginiana  &c« 
•Catesbt,  Car.  1.  U  48, — Pxukenet,  1. 117./.  5.  &c. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rush,  Trans.  FhU.  Col.  i.  183. — Bart.  Coll.  14. — Ciax- 
TON,  Phil.  Trans,  ahr,  viii.  332. — Rogers,  Znaitg-Mraidisserfoiiojij 
1802. 

PLATE  XXXI. 

Fig.  1.  Jl  branch  of  Liriodendron  tulipifera. 

Fig.  2.  Stamens  presenting  different  sides. 

Fig.  3.  FistiU 

Fig.  4.  Fruit. 

Fig.  5.  One  of  the  seeds  with  its  scale  or  envelope. 


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JUGLANS  CIISEREA. 


Butternut, 


PLATE  XXXII, 

Of  the  forest  trees  which  deserve  attention 
for  other  properties  than  the  uses  of  their  timber, 
the  Butternut  is  undoubtedly  one  of  the  most  in- 
teresting ;  its  fruit,  bark  and  juices  being  all  con- 
vertible to  use.  In  favourable  situations  it  becomes 
a  large  tree,  having  frequently  a  trunk  of  three 
feet  in  diameter.  It  is  abundant  in  the  North- 
ern and  Middle  States,  as  well  as  in  the  Western 
country.  Some  parts  of  the  District  of  Maine,  I 
am  told,  produce  woods  of  considerable  extent, 
consisting  wholly  of  this  tree.  Michaux  tells  us, 
that  it  is  common  in  the  states  of  Kentucky  and 
Tennessee,  that  it  abounds  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Erie,  the  Ohio  and  even  the  Missouri.  The  same 
author  states  that  it  is  found  in  the  mountainous 


116  JUG1.ANS  CINEREA. 

parts  of  Carolina  and  Georgia,  but  that  he  has  not 
met  with  it  in  the  lower  or  level  portions  of  the 
Southern  States.  It  is  variously  known  by  the 
names  o£  Butternut,  Oilnut  and  White  Walnut, 

The  genus  Jugians  or  Walnut  appertains  to 
thfeLinnae an  class  Monwcia  and  order  Polyan- 
drial'  Its  natural  orders  are  Jimentaceoe  of  Lin- 
nsetis  and  Terebintacem  of  Jussieu. 

This  genus  h^s  its  harren  flowers  in  aments 
with  a  siiJC'parted  calyx  ;  its  fertile  flowers  with 
a  four-cleft  superior  calyx  ;  a  four-parted  corolla  i 
two  styles ;  anil  a  coriaceous  drupe  with  a  furrow- 
ed nut  ^sr^'^";^'' 

The  species  cinerea  has  its  leaflets  numerous, 
ohlong-lanceolate,  rounded  at  hase,  downy  under^ 
neath,  serrate.  Fruit  ohlong-o^mte  with  a  termin- 
al projection,  viscid  and  hairy  ;  nut  oblong,  acumi- 
nate, with  a  rough,  indented  and  ragged  surface. 

The  leaves  of  the  Butternut  tree  when  fully 
grown  are  very  long,  consisting  of  fifteen  or  seven- 
teen leafets,  each  of  which  is  two  or  three  inches 
long,  rounded  at  base,  acuminate,  finely  serrate 
and  downy. 

The  flowers  appear  in  May  before  the  leaves 
are  expanded  to  theu'fuU  size.  The  barren  flow- 
ers hang  in  large  aments  from  the  sides  of  the 
last  year's  shoots,  near  their  extremities.     The 


BUTTERNUT.  119 

commonly  employed  in  the  form  of  an  extract, 
which  preparation  is  kept  in  our  druggists'  shops. 
Ten  or  twelve  grains  of  this  extract  operate  gent- 
ly, and  twenty  or  thirty  grains  with  considerable 
activity  on  the  bow^els.  It  has  been  used  for 
many  years  in  this  town  by  the  miost  respectable 
practitioners.  The  lute  Dr.  Warren  thought 
highly  of  its  efficacy,  and  employed  it  extensively 
in  various  complaints,  especially  in  dysentery. 
During  the  revolutionary  war,  when  foreign  medi- 
cines were  scarce,  this  extract  was  resorted  to  by 
many  of  the  army  surgeons,  as  a  substitute  for 
more  expensive  imported  drugs.  In  dysentery  it 
seems  at  one  time  to  have  acquired  a  sort  of  spe- 
cific reputation. 

From  numerous  trials  which  I  have  made  with 
this  medicine,  it  appears  to  me  to  possess  the 
qualities  of  an  useful  and  innocent  laxative.  When 
fresli  and  properly  prepared,  it  is  very  certain  in 
its  effect,  and  leaves  the  bowels  in  a  good  state. 
in  cases  of  habitual  costiveness  it  is  to  be  prefer- 
red to  more  stimulating  cathartics,  and  many 
persons  whose  state  of  health  has  rendered  them 
dependent  on  the  use  of  laxative  medicines,  have 
given  this  the  preference  after  the  trial  of  a  vari- 
ety of  other  medicines. 


120  JUGLANS  CINEREA. 

A  patent  medicine,  long  vended  in  this  state 
under  the  name  of  Ciiamberlain's  Bilious  Cordial, 
was  a  tincture  of  this  bark  combined  with  various 
aromatic  seeds. 

The  bark  is  said  to  be  rubefacient  when  exter- 
nally applied,  and  even  capable  of  exciting  a  blis- 
ter.    Of  this  I  have  had  no  experience. 

BOTANICAL  REFEREINCES. 

Juglans  cinerea,  LiNT?fjEUs,  Sp.  pi. — jAcquijr,  Ic.  rar,  i.  t, 
192. — WiLU)Exow,  arb.  156. — Wangenheim,  »Slmer.  21.  t9.f. 
21. — MiCHAux,  ii.  191. — Pursh,  ii.  636. 

Juglans  oblonga  Retz.  Obs.  i.  p.  10. — Juglans  cathartica, 
MicHAUX,  rn.  Arbres  foresiiers,  i.  165. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Thacher,  Dis^,  245. — Bart.  Col,  23.  32. — Rush,  Med. 
06s.  i.  112. 

PLATE  XXXIL 

Fig.  1.  Ji.  branch  of  Juglans  cinerea  in  Jlower,  the  leaves  not  fully 

expanded. 
Fig.  2.  J.  scale  or  barren  flower  from  the  ament  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  J  fertile  flower  magmfed. 
Fig.  4.  The  fruit. 


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VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 

American  Hellebore. 

PLATE  XXXIIt 

Xn  many  parts  of  the  United  States  the  swamps 
and  wet  meadows,  which  have  been  converted  into 
mowing  lands,  are  peculiarly  marked  in  the  early 
part  of  spring  by  two  species  of  plants.  These 
are  the  Ictodes  foetidus  already  described  (PI. 
xxiv)  and  Veratrum  viride,  usually  denominated 
Poke  root  and  Hellebore.  Both  of  these  plants 
spring  up  more  rapidly  than  the  grass  around 
them,  and  from  the  largeness  and  bright  green 
colour  of  their  leaves  they  are  often  the  most  no- 
ticeable objects  in  the  places  of  their  growth.  As 
the  season  advances,  the  Ictodes  continues  only  a 
tuft  of  radical  leaves,  while  the  Veratrum  sends 
up  a  straight  leafy  stalk,  which  frequently  acquires 

the  full  height  of  a  man, 
16 


ISS  TERATRUM  VIRIDE. 

This  plant  is  not  only  found  in  boggy  mead- 
ows, but  by  the  sides  of  brooks  in  rocky  and 
mountainous  situations,  from  Canada  to  Carolina* 
Its  flowering  time  is  from  May  to  July. 

•The  Vevatrum  album  or  White  Hellebore,  a 
well  known  medicinal  plant  found  in  most  coun- 
tries of  Europe,  has  a  very  close  resemblance  to 
the  American  species.  It  is,  however,  a  smooth- 
er plant,  and  differs  somewhat  in  its  flowers, 
bractes  and  stalks.  .iiroqcnoo  m  baJiidi'il 

>  "S^<iThe  genus  Veratrum,  on  account  of  the  diver- 
sity of  its  flowers,  was  placed  by  Linnseus  in  his 
class  Polygamia  and  order  Monoed/i.    Those  more 
recent  botanists,  who  omit  this  class,  have  trans- 
ferred the  genus  to  Hea^andria  trigynicuj^miii  ¥M 
KiThe  generic  character  of  Veratrum  consists 
in  a  siac-parted  corolla  without  calysc.     Stamens 
inserted  in  the  receptacle.     Capsules  three,  many 
seeded,     A  part  of  the  flowers  barren.     The  spe- 
cies mride  has  a  downy  panicle  with  the  partial 
hractes  longer  than  their  pedicels.     Segments  of 
,^ihe  corolla  thickened  on  the  inside  at  base,    rjr  ii* 
>^i>$  nThe  root  of  this  plant  is  thick  and  fleshy.  Its 
^gupper  portion  tunicated,  its  lower  half  solid  and 
i>scndLng  forth  a  multitude  of  large  whitish  radi* 
cles.     The  stem  is  from  three  to  five  feet  high, 
roimdisli.  solid,  striated  and  pubescent.    Through- 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE,  1^5 

with  the  roots  of  this  plant,  which  he  denominates 
"  white  hellebore."  A  portion  of  this  root  was 
repeatedly  given  to  each  individual,  and  he  whose 
stomach  made  the  most  vigorous  resistance  or 
soonest  recovered  from  its  eifects  was  considered 
the  stoutest  of  the  party  and  entitled  to  command 
the  rest. 

Kalm  tells  us  that  the  people  of  this  country, 
at  the  time  of  his  travels,  employed  a  decoction  of 
this  plant  externally  in  the  cure  of  scorbutic  af- 
fections, and  for  the  destruction  of  vermin.  He 
further  states,  that  corn  before  planting  was  soak- 
ed in  a  strong  decoction  of  the  Veratrum  to  protect 
it  against  the  birds  which  infest  our  fields  and 
devour  the  grain  after  it  is  deposited  in  the 
ground.  When  the  corn  is  thus  prepared,  it  is 
observed,  that  those  birds  which  swallow  it  be- 
come giddy  and  fall  to  the  ground,  an  example, 
the  writer  informs  us,  which  has  the  effect  to 
frighten  the  remainder  of  the  tribe  away  from  the 
place. 

Since  the  celebrity  acquired  bv  the  European 
white  hellebore  as  a  remedy  for  gout,  that  plant 
being  for  a  time  supposed  the  basis  of  the  cele- 
brated Eau  medicinale ;  the  attention  of  some 
practitioners  has  been  turned  to  investigating  the 
properties  of  the  American  plant,  which  so  close- 


1^6  VERAI^RUM  VIRIDE. 

ly  resembles  the  Veratrum  album  in  its  external 
habitudes.     The  result  of  such  trials  as  have  been 
made,  establishes  beyound  a  doubt  the  medicinal 
similarity  of  these  two  vegetables.     I  have  em- 
ployed the  American  plant  in  dispensary  practice 
la<the  treatment  of  obstinate  cases  of  chronic 
rheumatism.     Other  practitioners  have  applied  it 
to  the  treatment  of  gout,  and  of  cutaneous  and  oth- 
er affections.     From  the  sum  of  my  observations 
and  knowledge  respecting  it,  I  am  satisfied  that 
the  root,  when  not  impaired  by  long  exposure  and 
age,  is  in  sufiB.cient  doses  a  strong  emetic,  com- 
mencing its  operation  tardily,  but  continuing  in 
many  instances  for  a  long  time ;    in  large  doses 
affecting  the  functions  of  the  brain  and  nervous 
system  in  a  powerful  manner,  producing  giddi- 
ness, impaired  vision,  prostration  of  strength  and 
diminution  of  the  vital  powers.     Like  the  Vera- 
trum album  and  Colchicum  antunmale,  the  violent 
impression  which  it  makes  upon  the  system  has 
arrested  the  paroxysms  of  gout  and  given  relief  in 
some  unyielding  cases  of  protracted  rheumatism. 
Like  those  substances,  it  requires  to  be  given  with 
great  caution  and  under  vigilant  restrictions.    The 
solutions  of  this  article  have  appeared  to  me  more 
powerful  in  proportion  to  their  quantity  than  the 
substance,  probably  in  consequence  of  a  part  of 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE,  1^7 

the  powder  being  thrown  out  in  the  first  efforts  to 
vomit,  before  a  perfect  solution  of  its  active  parts 
in  the  stomach  could  have  taken  place. 

A  course  of  experiments  with  this  article  was 
made  sometime  since  in  the  Boston  Almshouse 
by  Dr.  John  Ware,  the  results  of  which  he  has 
obligingly  communicated  to  me.  They  cannot  be 
better  stated  than  in  his  own  words. 

"I  gave  this  plant,"  says  he,  '•  in  the  first  place 
with  a  view  to  ascertain  its  action  on  the  stomach 
and  alimentary  canal.  The  doses  in  which  it  was 
administered  amounted  to  from  two  to  ten  trains. 
I  began  with  a  small  quantity,  and  increased  it 
very  gradually  in  order  to  guard  against  the  oc- 
currence of  those  violent  and  dangerous  effects 
which  I  had  been  led  to  apprehend  from  the  de- 
scriptions given  of  the  operation  of  the  w  hite  helle- 
bore. A  slight  and  general  account  of  the  ex- 
periments will  give  the  most  satisfactory  view  of 
the  effects  of  this  root  as  an  emeticivv  Aiui^Gii'iipiu 

"It  was  administered  in  about  thirty  cases.  In 
the  first  case  two  grains  were  given  ;  this  only 
produced  slight  and  temporary  nausea,     jj  j-iu 

"  J?i  three  instances  three  grains  were  admin- 
istered ;  in  two  of  thege  vomiting  was  produced ; 
in  one  of  them  to  a  considerable  degree — in  the 
other  slight — in  the  third  no  effect  whatever  wa^ 


1S8  VERATIIUM  TIRIDE. 

produced. — Of  gr.  iv.  Four  doses,  of  which  only 
one  operated,  and  then  the  operation  was  incon- 
siderable.— Ofgr,  vi.  Fifteen  doses  were  given — 
ten  of  these  operated  perfectly  well ;  as  complete 
and  thorough  vomiting  was  produced  as  follows 
from  the  case  of  any  oth^r  emetics — in  the  elev- 
enth case  nausea  only  ensued^ — and  in  the  re- 
maining-, no  effect  whatever  was  perceived- — Of 
gi\  viii.  Four  doses — of  these,  two  failed  entire- 
ly and  two  operated  satisfactorily. — Of.  gr.  x.  On- 
ly one  dose  was  given — this  operated  very  thor- 
oughly. 

"I  did  not  find,  as  I  had  expected,  that  this 
substance  was  uncommonly  violent  or  distressing 
in  its  operation.  Patients,  in  general,  did  not 
complain  of  any  thing  unusual,  and  when  they 
were  particularly  questioned  as  to  their  sensa- 
tions, they  told  of  nothing  more  than  those  usual- 
ly occurring  during  the  effects  of  a  brisk  emetic. 
It  seemed  to  produce  vomiting  rather  more  se- 
verely than  an  ordinary  dose  of  ipecac— but  not 
more  than  one  of  antimony.  Indeed,  its  opera- 
tion may  fairly  be  said  to  be  about  as  violent  and 
distressing  as  that  of  any  other  emetic  whose  ef- 
fects in  evacuating  the  stomach  are  equally  thor- 
ough. In  a  few  instances,  however,  there  was  a 
complaint  of  very  violent  and  painful  retching — 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  iS9 

aiid  of  dizziness  at  the  time  and  for  a  short  time 

aftei^— still  these  effects  were  not  common  nor  ex- 
cessive -'»'^^^'**'  ^"■*^''»t*  ii'^^'itU'^.  "iCV— ■=.'>ldfc■'S'>L»i■:: 
"  "  As  to  its  influence  as  an  emetic  upon  diseased 
states  of  the  system,  there  were  few  opportuni- 
ties of  administering  it  where  any  considerable  def- 
rangement  existed.  In  those  cases  which  did  oc-. 
cur  it  did  not  appear  to  be  inferior  to  the  common 
emetics. 

'' '  '•  The  degree  of  operation  did  not  seem  to  be 
much  increased  by  the  increase  of  the  dose  of  the 
medicine.  Doses  of  six  grains  appeared,  when 
they  took  effect,  to  produce  vomiting  as  thorough 
and  complete,  as  that  which  followed  from  larger 
doses  j  except  that  the  larger  were  perhaps  more 
speedy  in  operating.  [  could  find  no  cause  for 
the  failure  of  so  many  of  those  cases  in  which  the 
dose  amounted  to  six  or  eight  grains,  except  an 
insensibility  in  the  patient  to  the  stimulus  of  the 
medicine  ;  and  this  was  rendered  more  probable 
from  the  circumstance  that  generally  in  those  in- 
stances, the  substance  failed  in  producing  any  ef- 
fect whatever ;  nausea  did  not  often  occur  when 
vomiting  was  not  to  follow  it,  and  in  no  instance 
was  it  very  clear  that  purging  was  produced. 

"Indeed  this  appeared  to  be  rather  a  singulaj? 
circumstance  relating  to  this  substance,  and  one 


130  VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 

in  which  it  diflers  from  most  or  all  other  emetics* 
These  articles,  when  they  fail  of  producing  vomit- 
ing, generally  occasion  a  determination  down- 
wards, and  thus  produce  all  the  phenomena  of  ca- 
thartic medicines.  This  effect  is  also  frequently 
produced  when  they  have  operated  in  their  pecu- 
liar way.  But  in  no  instance  did  this  appear  to 
he  the  case  with  the  Hellebore.  Some  patients, 
indeed,  said  that  it  operated  upon  them  by  stool 
very  slightly — but  on  strict  inquiry  I  did  not 
think  that  the  medicine  had  had  any  effect  in  this 
way,  and  that  what  was  told  me  proceeded  from  a 
desire  in  the  persons  to  attribute  some  sort  of  ef- 
fect to  what  had  been  given  them. 

"In  the  greater  number  of  the  cases,  the  Helle- 
bore was  longer  before  it  produced  vomiting  than 
is  the  case  generally  with  other  emetics.  It  did 
not  often  operate  in  less  than  three  quarters  of  an 
hour  or  an  hour — but  sometimes  the  interval  was 
extended  to  two  or  three  hours — and  in  one  case, 
although  the  dose  was  administered  at  twelve  at 
noon,  its  effects  were  not  produced  until  between 
nine  and  ten  o'clock  in  the  evening.  This  tardi- 
ness in  manifesting  its  effects  on  the  system  cor- 
responds with  what  has  been  observed  with  re- 
spect to  the  European  species. 


AMERICiLN  HELLEBOPtE.  131 

"  I  made  a  few  experiments  with  the  powder  of 
the  Veratrum  album  in  order  to  compare  its  pow- 
ers with  those  which  existed  in  om*  native  species. 
It  was  given  in  six  cases — of  two  doses  of  three 
grains — neither  produced  any  effect — ane  of  four 
was  not  more  effectual — six  grains  produced  some 
vomiting,  but  not  to  any  considerable  extent — seven 
no  effect  whatever — and  eight  produced  in  about 
four  hours  after  taking  it  considerable  effect.  If 
these  experiments  are  to  be  depended  upon,  the 
foreign  certainly  is  not  more  powerful  than  the 
native  species. 

"  I  endeavoured  next  to  ascertain  what  degree 
of  power  the  Hellebore  was  possessed  of  over  cu- 
taneous diseases.  It  has  the  reputation  in  the 
country  of  some  efficacy  in  these  complaints.  The 
ointment  and  decoction  were  applied  in  a  number 
of  cases,  and  it  certainly  proved  to  be  an  applica- 
tion of  considerable  power.  Its  effects  in  some 
cases  amounted  to  a  removal  of  the  disease  en- 
tirely— and  in  most,  some  diminution  of  it  fol- 
lowed, which  was  more  or  less  durable. 

"In  one  case  where  there  was  an  eruption  about 
the  wrists  and  other  parts  of  the  body,  supposed 
to  be  the  itch — the  ointment  (made  by  simmering 
together  a  dram  of  Hellebore  in  an  ounce  of  lard) 
after  being  applied  for  some  time,  removed  the 


13S  VERATRUM  VIRIIIE, 

disease.     The  cure,  however,  was  protracted  and 
tedious. 

iiii^  A  second  case  was  that  of  a  hoy  who  had  on 
the  hack  of  his  head,  what  appeared  to  he  the  com- 
mencement of  Tinea  capitis.  The  ointment  made 
in  the  same  way  as  that  before  mentioned,  except 
that  simmering  was  omitted,  removed  it  in  the 
course  of  a  fortnight.  It  returned  again  in  the 
course  of  a  few  weeks  and  was  again  destroyed  by 
the  same  application.  It  did  not  recur  so  long 
as  I  had  an  opportunity  of  observing  the  child, 
which  was,  however,  not  long. 

"In  one  clear  case  of  itch,  the  ointment  failed 
of  producing  any  beneficial  effect,  and  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  have  recourse  to  the  usual  remedy. 

"  An  instance  of  a  very  troublesome  and  irritat- 
ing eruption  upon  the  hands  and  fingers,  accom- 
panied by  a  venereal  taint  of  the  system,  was  very 
much  relieved  by  this  ointment.  Its  final  remov- 
al, however,  could  not  be  attributed  to  this,  since 
the  patient  was  under  the  influence  of  mercury  at 
the  same  time. 

"  In  some  other  cases  both  the  ointment  and 
decoction  were  used  with  success  for  a  time,  but 
the  effects  they  produced  wei;e  only  partial  and 
temporary.".  it  :...iU 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  133 

Of  the  power  of  this  plant  to  relieve  the  formi- 
dahle  disease  of  gout,  we  have  the  most  satisfac- 
tory evidence.  A  composition  Intended  to  imi- 
tate the  celebrated  Eau  medicinale  was  prepared 
in  England  by  Mr.  Moore  from  the  wine  of  white 
hellebore  and  wine  of  opium  in  the  proportion  of 
three  parts  of  the  former  to  one  of  the  latter. 
This  compound  was  used  by  many  arthritic  pa- 
tients both  in  Europe  and  America  with  great 
success  in  relieving  the  paroxysms  of  the  disease. 
In  Boston  a  considerable  number  of  individuals 
have  been  induced  to  make  trial  of  the  remedy, 
and  generally  with  advantage.  But  I  am  inform- 
ed by  several  of  our  most  repectable  apotheca- 
ries, that  for  a  long  time,  especially  during  the 
late  war,  when  the  white  hellebore  could  not  be 
obtained  from  Europe,  the  American  plant  was 
used  in  the  preparation  of  the  medicine  upon 
the  supposition  of  its  being  the  same  with  the 
European.  Various  gouty  patients  made  use  of 
it,  and  no  difference  was  perceived  hy  them  or 
their  physicians  in  its  mode  of  operation  or  effect 
upon  the  disease.  Some  were  relieved  by  small 
doses,  which  did  not  even  nauseate,  such  as  fifteen 
or  twenty  drops,  repeated  if  necessary.  Others 
found  a  drachm  of  the  mixture  necessary,  which 
quantity  affected  them  unpleasantly  by  vomiting 


13.4  VERATRUM  YIRIDE. 

or  otherwise.  Some  experienced  such  severe  ef- 
fects as  to  deter  them  after  one  trial  from  a  repe- 
tition of  the  experiment.  In  general  the  parox- 
ysm of  gout  was  completely  suspended  hy  the  op- 
eration of  the  medicine. 

On  the  whole,  we  liave  sufficient  knowledge  of 
the  American  green  hellebore,  to  feel  assured 
that  it  is  a  plant  of  great  activity,  closely  resem- 
bling in  its  properties  the  Veratrum  album  of 
Europe  ;  and  that  like  that  plant  it  has  given  re- 
lief in  the  paroxysms  of  gout  and  in  rheumatism. 
Whether  the  original  Eaii  medicinale  he  a  prep- 
aration of  Veratrum,  Colchicum,  or  any  other  ac- 
rid narcotic,  it  is  not  of  consequence  here  to  de- 
cide. These  plants,  with  several  others  that 
might  be  mentioned,  are  similar  in  theii*  operation, 
and  probably  influence  the  system  when  under 
disease,  much  in  the  same  way.  Some  individu- 
als obtain  relief  from  moderate  doses,  which  do 
not  occasion  nausea  or  any  very  disagreeable  ef- 
fects. Otliers  have  not  derived  benefit  except 
from  such  quantities  as  bring  on  vomiting.  Some 
have  experienced  very  distressing  consequences, 
such  as  excessive  sickness,  purging,  great  pros- 
tration of  strength,  impaired  vision,  and  even 
total  insensibility,  where  the  dose  has  been  im- 
prudently large. 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE.  135 

The  wine  of  green  hellebore  is  prepared  like 
that  of  the  'vhite,  by  iniusing  for  ten  days  eight 
ounces  of  the  sliced  root,  in  two  pints  and  an 
half  of  Spanish  white  wine.  Before  being  givenj 
in  gout,  it  is  combined  with  one  fourth  part  its 
quantity  of  wine  of  opium.  Of  this  compound 
the  dose  varies  from  twenty  drops  to  a  drachm. 

From  some  observations  made  by  Sir  Everard 
Home  respecting  the  wine  of  Colchicum  autum- 
nale,  it  is  probable  that  the  wine  of  Yeratrum 
may  be  less  violent  in  its  effects,  if  freed  from  the 
sediment  which  it  deposits  by  standing. 

Of  the  substance  of  the  root  freshly  powdered, 
from  two  to  six  grains  will  be  found  a  sufficient 
dose.  For  medicinal  use,  however,  in  most  cases 
it  is  probable  that  tlie  liquid  preparation  above 
described  promises  more. 

The  external  application  of  the  ointment  and 
decoction  sometimes  produces  the  same  effect  on 
the  stomach  as  the  internal  use  of  the  plant.  In 
one  instance  a  patient  was  nauseated  and  vomit- 
ing brought  on  by  the  ointment  applied  to  an 
ulcer  of  the  leg.  I  have  known  similar  conse- 
quences from  a  strong  decoction  in  cutaneous  af- 
fections. Might  the  topical  application  of  this 
plant  be  of  any  service  in  gout  ? 


ia4 


VERATRUM  VIRIDE. 


or  otherwise.  Some  experienced  such  severe  ef- 
fects as  to  deter  them  after  one  trial  from  a  repe- 
tition of  the  experiment.  In  general  the  parox- 
ysm of  gout  was  completely  suspended  hy  the  op- 
eration of  the  medicine. 

On  the  whole,  we  liave  sufficient  knowledge  of 
the  American  green  hellebore,  to  feel  assured 
that  it  is  a  plant  of  great  activity,  closely  resem- 
bling in  its  properties  the  Veratrum  album  of 
Europe  ;  and  that  like  that  plant  it  has  given  re- 
lief in  the  paroxysms  of  gout  and  in  rheumatism. 
Whether  the  original  Eaii  medicinale  be  a  prep- 
aration of  Veratrum,  Colchicum,  or  any  other  ac- 
rid narcotic,  it  is  not  of  consequence  here  to  de- 
cide. These  plants,  with  several  others  that 
might  be  mentioned,  are  similar  in  their  operation, 
and  probably  influence  the  system  when  under 
disease,  much  in  the  same  way.  Some  individu- 
als obtain  relief  from  moderate  doses,  which  do 
not  occasion  nausea  or  any  very  disagreeable  ef- 
fects. Others  have  not  derived  benefit  except 
from  snch  quantities  as  bring  on  vomiting.  Some 
have  experienced  very  distressing  consequences, 
such  as  excessive  sickness,  purging,  great  pros- 
tration of  strength,  impaired  vision,  and  even 
total  insensibility,  where  the  dose  has  been  im- 
prudently large. 


a.    e 


* . 


AMERICAN  HELLEBORE. 


135 


The  wine  of  green  hellebore  is  prepared  like 
that  of  the  "vhite,  by  iniusing  for  ten  days  eight 
ounces  of  the  sliced  root,  in  two  pints  and  an 
half  of  Spanish  white  wine.  Before  being  givenj 
in  gout,  it  is  combined  with  one  fourth  part  its 
quantity  of  wine  of  opium.  Of  this  compound 
the  dose  varies  from  twenty  drops  to  a  drachm. 

From  some  observations  made  by  Sir  Everard 
Home  respecting  the  wine  of  Colchicum  autum- 
nale,  it  is  probable  that  the  wine  of  Yeratrum 
may  be  less  violent  in  its  effects,  if  freed  from  the 
sediment  which  it  deposits  by  standing. 

Of  the  substance  of  the  root  freshly  powdered, 
from  two  to  six  grains  will  be  found  a  sufficient 
dose.  For  medicinal  use,  however,  in  most  cases 
it  is  probable  that  the  liquid  preparation  above 
described  promises  more. 

The  external  application  of  the  ointment  and 
decoction  sometimes  produces  the  same  effect  on 
the  stomach  as  the  internal  use  of  the  plant.  In 
one  instance  a  patient  was  nauseated  and  vomit- 
ing brought  on  by  the  ointment  applied  to  an 
ulcer  of  the  leg.  I  have  known  similar  conse- 
quences from  a  strong  decoction  in  cutaneous  af- 
fections. Might  the  topical  application  of  this 
plant  be  of  any  service  in  gout  ? 


136  YERATRUM  VIRli>E. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Veratrum  viiide,  Aiton,  Kew.  iii.  422. — ^Whldenow,  S^^ 
pi.  iv.  896. — PuRSH,  i.  242. — Rees*  Cyclopedia,  ad.  verb. — ^Ve- 
ratrum album,  MiCHAux,  ii.  249.— Helonias  viridis,  Bot.  Mag. 
1096. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

K.A1M,  travds,  ii.  91. — Josseitbt,  Voyage  to  Mew  Englandi, 
f.  60. — Thacher,  JW  Eng.  Journal, 

PLATE  XXXII. 

Fig.  1.  Leaf  and  Jlowers  of  Veratrum  viride. 

Fig.  2.  Petal  magnified. 

Fig.  3,  Stamens. 

Fig.  4.  Fistils. 

Fig.  5.  Capsule. 

Fig.  6.  Section  of  the  capsule,  showing  the  seeds. 

Fig.  7.  A  seed. 


1 


I 


difinal  p 
prejerTiti 
Gentian  I 
rool-dDd 


]     enunenL 
great  res 


bitteroeii 
tliig  irtM 

Medi 


GENTIANA  CATESB.EI. 


Blue  Gentian, 

PLATE  XXXIV. 

J.  am.  indebted  to  the  late  Dr.  Macbride,  of 
Charleston,  S.  C.  for  my  specimens  of  this  me- 
dicinal plant,  and  for  a  quantity  of  its  root  in 
preservation.  Many  of  the  perennial  species  of 
Gentian  have  a  great  degree  of  bitterness  in  the 
root,  and  among  these  the  Gentiana  lutea^  or  com- 
mon imported  Gentian  of  the  shops,  stands  pre- 
eminent. Of  the  American  species,  several  bear 
great  resemblance  in  taste  and  effect  to  the  Euro- 
pean plant,  ^o  one,  however,  which  I  have  ex- 
amined approaches  so  near  to  the  officinal  root  in 
bitterness,  as  the  species  which  is  the  subject  of 
this  article.  This  species  was  formerly  con- 
founded with  the  Gentiana  saponaria,  a  fine  au- 
tumnal plant,  common  in  the  Northern  and  Mid- 
18 


138  GENTIANA  CATESBJEI. 

die  States.  It  differs  widely,  however,  from  that 
species  in  the  size  of  its  leaves,  the  length  of  its 
calyx,  the  open  mouth  of  its  corolla  and  shape  of 
its  segments.  An  imperfect  figm'e  of  this  plant, 
published  by  Catesby  sixty  years  ago,  has  been 
quoted  by  subsequent  botanists  as  belonging  to 
O.  Saponaria.  It  has  now  been  very  properly 
tlistinguished  by  Walter  and  Elliott,  who  have  ap- 
plied to  the  new  species  the  name  of  its  earliest 
delineator. 

The  genus  Gentiana  has  a  monopetaloiis  corol- 
la; a  capsule  one-celled  and  two-valved,  with  two 
longitudinal  receptacles.  The  species  Catesbwi 
has  a  rough  stem ;  leaves  ovate-lanceolate ;  seg- 
ments of  the  calyx  longer  than  the  tube  ;  mouth  of 
the  corolla  open,  its  outer  segments  subacute,  in- 
ner segments  bifid  and  fimbriate. 

This  genus  is  placed  by  Linnseus  in  his  class 
and  order  Pentandria,  Bigynia.  A  part  of  the 
species,  however,  depart  from  the  character  of 
this  class,  and  constitute  one  of  those  instances  in 
which  the  general  rules  of  the  arrangement  are 
violated,  that  apparently  natural  genera  may  not 
be  divided.  A  part  of  the  Oentians  have  five  sta- 
mens and  a  five-cleft  corolla ;  others  have  four 
stamens  and  a  four-cleft  corolla ;  others  have  a 
still  different  number.      Yet  so  uniform  is   the 


BLUE  GENTIAN.  141 

the  appetite,  prevent  the  acidification  of  the  food, 
and  to  enable  the  stomach  to  bear  and  digest  ar- 
ticles of  diet,  which  before  produced  oppression 
and  dejection  of  spirits. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Gentiana  Catesbsei,  Waiter,  Flora  Carol,  p.  109. — Elli- 
ott, Botany  of  the  Southern  States,  i.  340. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 
Elliott,  loc.  cit. 

PLATE  XXXIV. 

Fig.  1.  Gentiana  Catesbcei. 

Fig.  2.  A  fiower  with  the  corolla  drawn  open  to  show  the 

inner  plicce. 
Fig.  3.  Stamens  and  pistil  in  their  natural  situation. 
Fig.  4.  Stamens  separate. 
Fig.  5.  FistiL 


LAURUS  SASSAFRAS, 
Sassafras  Tree. 

PLATE  XXXV, 

AoiosT  every  section  of  the  United  States 
^produces  the  Sassafras  tree.  It  not  only  inhab- 
its every  latitude  from  New  England  to  Florida, 
but  we  are  told  it  is  also  found  in  the  forests  of 
Mexico  and  even  of  Brazil.  Its  peculiar  foliage 
and  the  spicy  qualities  of  its  bark  render  it  a 
prominent  object  of  notice,  and  it  seems  to  have 
been  one  of  the  earliest  trees  of  the  North  Amer- 
ican continent  to  attract  the  attention  of  Europe- 
ans. Its  character  as  an  article  of  medicine  was 
at  one  time  so  high,  that  it  commanded  an  extrava- 
gant price,  and  treatises  were  written  to  celebrate 
its  virtues.  It  still  retains  a  place  in  the  best 
European  Pharmacopseias. 


■3  ^-  *-^-* 


♦ 


..-'       '.       <'      •«      ^ 
fi       5^      li       «•   ■   t 


It  i>ot  onH''  ioli 


nde  from  IS'f ' 


?e8  of  the  North  Amep> 

itioti  of  Earn; 


l.::OK)llll 


iVbrate 


jSanin  fe  SmUA.  Xe- 


SASSAFRAS  TREE.  145 

more  pleasant.  The  flavour  and  odour  reside  in 
a  volatile  oil  which  is  readily  obtained  from  the 
bark  bj  distillation.  It  is  of  a  light  colour,  be- 
coming darker  by  age,  very  pungent,  and  heavier 
than  water,  so  that  it  sinks  in  that  fluid  when  the 
drops  are  sufficiently  large  to  overcome  thie  re- 
pulsion at  the  surface.  The  bark  and  pith  of  the 
young  twigs  abound  with  a  pure  and  delicate  mu- 
cilage. A  very  small  quantity  of  the  pith  infused 
in  a  glass  of  water  gives  to  the  whole  a  ropy  con- 
sistance,  like  the  white  of  an  eg^.  This  mucilage 
has  the  uncommon  quality  that  it  is  not  precipi- 
tated, coagulated,  or  rendered  turbid  by  alcohol. 
It  continues  in  a  perfectly  transparent  state  when 
mixed  with  that  fluid,  though  it  does  not  unite 
with  it.  When  evaporated  to  dryness,  it  leaves  a 
light  coloured,  gum-like  residuum. 

The  volatile  oil   and  the   mucilage  appear  to 
contain  all  the  medicinal  virtue  of  the  tree. 

The  bark  and  wood  of  the  Sassafras  were 
formerly  much  celebrated  in  the  cure  of  various 
complaints,  particularly  syphilis,  rheumatism  and 
dropsy.  Its  reputation,  however,  as  a  specific  in 
those  diseases,  particularly  the  first,  has  fallen 
into  deserved  oblivion,  while  it  is  now  recognized 
only  with  regard  to  its  general  properties,  which 
are  those  of  a  warm  stimulant  and  diaphoretic. 
19 


146  LAURUS  SASSAFRAS. 

It  is  retained  by  the  Dispensatories  as  an  ingre- 
dient in  several  preparations,  particularly  the 
compound  decoction  of  guaiacum,  formerly  called 
"  decoction  of  the  woods ;''  and  the  compound 
decoction  of  Sarsaparilla,  formerly  the  "Lisbon 
diet  drink.''  These  preparations  are  useful  as 
sudoriiSLCs  in  rheumatism,  some  cutaneous  diseas- 
es, and  the  sequelse  of  syphilis.  They  derive, 
however,  more  of  their  efficacy  from  their  other 
ingredients,  than  from  the  Sassafras,  a  principal 
part  of  the  efficacy  of  which  is  dissipated  by  boil- 
ing. 

The  most  proper  mode  of  employing  the  Sas- 
safras is  in  the  form  of  its  volatile  oil,  which  may 
be  given  in  very  small  quantities  as  an  antispas- 
modic, stimulant  and  sudorific.  It  is  too  acrid  to 
be  taken  unmixed,  and  should  therefore  be  dis- 
solved in  spirit  and  mixed  with  water  or  syrup. 

The  mucilage  of  the  pith  of  this  tree  is  pe- 
culiarly mild  and  lubricating,  and  has  been  used 
with  much  benefit  in  dysentery,  and  in  catarrhal, 
as  well  as  calculous  affiictions.  Some  eminent 
surgeons  have  employed  it  as  a  lotion  in  the  most 
inflammatory  stages  of  ophthalmia,  to  which  its 
softness  renders  it  extremely  well  suited. 

The  wood  of  the  Sassafras  tree  is  of  a  light 
texture,  but  is  said  to  be  durable  when  exposed 


SASSAFRAS  TREE*  i47 

to  the  weather.  It  has  been  thought  capable  of 
repelling  insects  by  its  odour,  and  on  this  ac- 
count has  been  employed  for  trunks,  bedsteads, 
^c.  A  property  of  this  kind,  however,  is  wrongly 
attributed  to  it,  since  the  wood  retains  scarcely 
any  odour  after  a  few  months  drying. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Laurus  Sassafras,  Llnn.  Sp.pl. — Puksh,  i.  277. — Nuttaii,, 
i.  259. — ^WooDvrLLE,  iv.  t.  234. — Michaux,  fil.  drbres  fores- 
tiers,  iii.  173. — Laurus  foliis  integris,  trilobisve. — Teew,  Ehr. 

t,  69,  70. — Cornus  mas  odorata,  &c. — PiuKEHfET,  *&lm,  120,  t. 
222. — Catesbt,  Car.  i.  t.  55. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

MuERAT,  .Apparatus,  iv.  555. — Kalm,  travels ,  ii. — Hoitman 
Obs.  Phys.  Cliem.  31. — Culxen",  Mat.  Med.  ii.  200. — Clayton-, 
Phil.  Trans.  Mr.  viii.  332. — Bremane,  Sassafrasologia  in  1627. 

PLATE  XXXV. 

Fig.  1.  Laurus  Sassafras,  a  branch  xvith  perfect  flowers  of 

the  natural  size. 
Fig.  2.  Jl  stamen  magiiified. 
Fig.  3.  Pistil,         ditto. 
Fig.  4.  Fruit. 


APOCYNUM  ANDROSJEMIFOLIUM 


JDog^s  Bane. 


PLATE  XXXVL 

A  HIS  is  a  brandling  perennial  plant,  found 
from  Canada  to  Carolina  about  the  sides  offences 
and  the  borders  of  woods.  It  has  a  peculiarly 
neat  aspect  derived  from  its  smoothness,  its  leaf- 
less and  coloured  stalk,  busliy  top  and  delicate 
flowers.  Like  tlie  other  American  species,  it  is 
a  lactescent  plant,  with  a  fibrous  bark.  It  attains 
its  flowering  period  in  June  and  Julj. 

The  genus  Apocynum  has  a  hell-shaped  co- 
rolla ;  a  nectary  of  Jive  corpuscles  surrounding 
the  germ  ;  anthers  adhering  to  the  stigma  by  the 
middle  ;  follicles  ttvo  ;  seeds  with  down. 

The  present  species  is  glabrous,  its  stem  erect 
and  branching ;  cymes  lateral  and  terminal;  co- 
rolla spreading. 


^-  ..5.  .^^ 


'[^Z^-.i^*;'^- 


■^ 


foand 

'ecce; 


jtale 


ll\i 


8 


'■mi'fn.- 


^Bims^f^MlFOLlTm 


I 


m 


^reDixial  plant,  found 

tffetiees 


?i\m5>  bufi- 


beU-^siuq)ed  eo- 
yrpuscles  surtounding 
to  the  stigma  by  ih 

'^Ih  down. 

'■'      its  sten: 


\ 


i 


J'l.  XXXVI. 


^t>y?2/€^n'   a 


^t^a^Vifia^nuj/v^um/ 


Annin  8c  Smitfi,  Sc. 


dog's  bane.  151 

thirds  the  quantity  of  Ipecacuanha.  In  my  own 
trials  it  has  appeared  to  me  much  less  powerful 
than  the  latter  substance,  and  although  it  produces 
vomiting,  yet  this  power  is  diminished  by  keeping, 
and  appears  to  be  eventually  destroyed  by  age. 
When  used  for  the  purpose  of  an  emetic,  the  re- 
cently powdered  root  should  be  employed. 

The  sensible  and  chemical  qualities  of  this 
root  seem  to  promise  a  good  effect  when  given  in 
small  doses  as  a  tonic  medicine  to  the  stomach. 
My  observations  on  this  subject  may  hereafter  be 
more  mature.  (See  Appendix.)  We  have  certain- 
ly very  few  indigenous  vegetables  which  exceed 
the  Apocynum  in  bitterness.  Perhaps  its  emetic 
property  when  given  in  large  doses  may  be  owing 
to  this  quality.  Most  bitter  vegetables  produce 
vomiting  when  administered  in  large  quantities. 

Kalm  observes  in  his  travels  in  North  Ameri- 
ca, that  in  some  parts  of  the  country  tliis  plant 
was  suspected  of  poisonous  properties  like  those 
of  the  Rhus  vernix.  The  country  people  inform- 
ed him  that  the  milky  juice  rubbed  on  the  hands 
produced  blistering  in  many  persons,  and  that 
some  were  affected  in  the  same  way  even  by  the 
effluvium  of  the  plant. — -I  know  of  no  other  au- 
thority than  that  stated  above  for  the  existence  of 
.such  a  property  in  the  Apocynum.     The  plant  is 


15S  APOCYNUM  ANDROSiEMIFOLIUM. 

common  and  well  known  in  Massachusetts,  Yet 
I  have  never  heard  it  suspected  of  deleterious 

properties. 

The  flowers  of  the  Apocynum  have  a  power 
of  catching  flies  and  small  insects  which  was  as- 
cribed by  Dr.  Darwin  to  an  irritability  in  the  in- 
ternal organs.  Mr.  Curtis  in  the  Botanical  mag- 
azine, has  considered  this  subject  at  large,  and 
ascribes  the  property  to  a  more  rational  cause. 
In  consequence  of  the  close  convergency  of  the 
anthers  and  their  adhesion  to  the  stigma,  a  nar- 
row fissure  or  slit  exists,  which  becomes  more 
contracted  near  the  top.  The  insect  in  search  of 
the  honey  at  the  bottom  of  the  flower,  inserts  his 
proboscis  between  the  stamens  into  the  cavity 
within  them.  In  extricating  it  from  this  situa- 
tion the  proboscis  is  sometimes  caught  in  the  fis- 
sure, and  in  proportion  to  the  efforts  made  by  the 
insect  to 'escape  it  becomes  more  closely  wedged 
in  the  upper  part  of  the  slit,  so  that  its  deliverance 
by  its  own  powers  becomes  at  length  impractica- 
ble. Musquitoes,  gnats,  and  small  flies  are  fre- 
quently found  dead  in  this  confinement. 


DOG'S  BANE. 


153 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Apocynum  androssemifolium,  Lin.  Sp,  pi. — Curtis,  Botani- 
cal Magazine,  t.  280. — Darwiiv,  Botanic  Garden^  ii.  182. — Mx- 
€HAUX,  Flora,  i.  121. — PmisH,  i.  179i 


MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 

Kalm,  Travels,  iii.  26. 


PLATE  XXXVI. 

T'ig.  1.  Branch  of  Jlpocijnum  androscamifolium. 

Fig.  2.  Fair  of  follicles. 

Fig.  3.  Cone  formed  of  the  united  stamens. 

Fig.  4.  Stamen  detached. 

Fig.  5.  /Si(fe  view  of  the  calyx,  nectaries  and  germs. 

Fig.  6.  Fronf  Tiew  of  the  same. 

Fig.  7.  ,i  seed. 


DIRCA  PALUSTRIS. 


Leather  Wood, 


FLdTE  xxxrn. 


X  HE  diversity  of  climate  in  different  latitudes 
of  the  United  States  does  not  prevent  this  shrub 
from  appearing  in  the  most  rigorously  cold  as 
well  as  in  the  warmest  sections  of  the  country. 
I  have  seen  it  growing  plentifully  on  the  hanks 
of  the  Kennebec,  in  Maine,  and  Mr.  Bartrani 
found  it  in  great  vigour  on  the  Savannah  river  in 
Georgia.  It  is  a  marshy  shrub  frequenting  low 
woods  and  the  vicinity  of  water,  flowering  in  April 
and  May.  It  is  commonly  of  humble  growth, 
though  Mr.  Bartram  found  specimens  six  or 
seven  feet  in  height.  It  is  remarkable  for  the 
flexibility  of  its  wood  and  toughness  of  its  bark, 
which  are  so  great  that  it  cannot  be  broken  with- 
out great  difficulty.     The  Aborigines  employed 


"^    ^    ifi  ^J-     ii     '.      '■     --* 


iy\l 


i 

.t  ^'-n 


i 


^ 


LEATHER  WOOD.  107 

vomiting.     This  effect  pretty  certainly  occurs  if 
the  bark  be  recent  or  freshly  powdered. 

A  variety  of  observations  on  this  shrub  have 
been  made  by  my  pupil,  Dr.  John  Locke,  who 
first  called  my  attention  to  the  examination  of  its 
properties.  He  found  on  experiment  that  not 
only  the  distilled  water,  but  the  decoction  also 
was  void  of  acrimony,  and  that  in  the  boiled  bark 
this  property  was  very  much  diminished,  though 
still  present.  The  watery  extract  had  consider- 
able bitterness,  but  scarcely  any  of  the  peculiar 
acrimony  of  the  plant.  Taken  in  doses  of  a 
drachm,  it  did  not  produce  any  very  sensible  ef- 
fect. Alcohol  without  heat  acquired  but  slight 
sensible  properties  from  the  bark.  ^N'othiug 
came  over  by  distillation  with  alcohol,  but  the 
alcohol  remaining  in  the  retort  had  acquired  the 
acrimony.  The  spirituous  extract  procured  by 
evaporating  this  decoction  was  equal  to  one  twen- 
ty fourth  of  the  bark  from  which  it  was  obtained. 
It  contained  the  acrimony  in  a  concentrated  form, 
producing  a  more  powerful  effect  on  the  fauces 
than  the  fresh  bark.  It  was  largely  but  not  com- 
pletely soluble  in  water.  » 

Dr.  Locke  gave  the  freshly  dried  root  to  various 
patients  in  doses  of  from  five  to  ten  grains,  which 
quantity  in   most  instances    proved    powerfully 


158  DIRCA  PALUSTRIS. 

emetic,  and  sometimes  cathartic.  It  was  found 
to  be  deteriorated  by  keeping,  and  did  not  pro- 
duce the  same  effects  when  very  old.  In  conse- 
quence of  some  statements  which  have  been 
made  in  regard  to  its  vesicating  properties,  Dr. 
Locke  applied  portions  of  the  bark  moistened  with 
vinegar  to  the  skin  of  his  arm.  In  twelve  hours 
no  effect  was  produced,  in  twenty  four  some  red- 
ness and  itching  took  place  and  in  thirty  a  com- 
plete vesication  followed. 

The  fruit  of  the  Dirca  has  been  suspected  of 
narcotic  properties.  Dr.  Perkins,  of  Hanover, 
N.  H.  has  communicated  the  case  of  a  child 
which  had  eaten  these  berries  with  effects  like 
those  produced  by  Stramonium,  such  as  stupor, 
insensibility,  and  dilatation  of  the  pupils.  An 
emetic  brought  up  the  berries  and  the  child  grad- 
ually recovered.  A  medical  student  who  took 
several  of  the  berries  found  that  they  produced 
nausea  and  giddiness. 

The  medicinal  action  of  the  bark  of  the  Dirca 
probably  depends  on  its  acrid  constituents,  which 
appear  to  be  partly  of  a  resinous  and  partly  of  a 
volatile  nature.  Its  properties  appear  somewhat 
allied  to  those  of  Polygala  senega,  for  which  it 
might  perhaps  be  substituted  in  small  quanti- 
ties.    It  is  best  given  in  substance,  though  on  ac- 


LEATHER  WOOD.  159 

count  of  the  tenacity  of  its  fibres  it  is  difficult  of 
subdivision.  After  beating  in  a  mortar  it  resem- 
bles fine  lint  more  than  powder.  Its  vesicating 
properties  appear  too  feeble  to  promise  much 
utility. 

I  have  introduced  the  Dirca  in  this  place,  not 
so  much  because  it  has  been  yet  applied  to  any 
medical  purpose  of  great  importance  ;  but  be- 
cause it  would  be  improper,  in  a  work  like  the 
present,  to  pass  over  unnoticed  a  shrub  of  such 
decided  activity. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Dirca  palustris,  List.  Ammnitates  academiccEf  iii,  1. 1.  6.  7. = 

DuHAMEL,  w3r&.  vi.  t.  212. — PuRSHji.  236. — Michaux,  i.  268. 

Baetram,  Travels,  309. — Kaxm,  Travels,  ii.  148. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 

B.  S.  Barton,  Coll,  32. 

PLATE  XXXVII. 

Fig.  1.  A  branch  with  leaves  of  Dirca  palusiris. 

Fig.  2.  A  branch  injlower. 

Fig.  3.  Fruit, 

Fig.  4.  Germ  and  shjle  much  magnijied. 

Fig.  5.  Magnified  corolla,  laid  open. 

Fig.  6,  Flower  magnified. 


UUBUS  VILLOSUS. 


Tall  Blttckberry, 


PLATE  XXXVIU. 

J.  HE  family  of  shrubs  comprized  under  the 
term  Rubus,  including  the  various  species  of 
Baspherry,  Blackberry,  Beivberry,  ^c.  is  exten- 
sively diffused  througliout  the  United  States. 
Many  of  them  are  known  as  troublesome  bram- 
bles, a  few  are  unarmed,  and  a  certain  number 
are  nearly  herbaceous.  Some  are  distinguished 
by  the  elegance  of  their  flowers,  and  others  by 
the  deliciousness  of  their  fruit.  The  Rubus  vil- 
losus  is  one  of  the  most  common  and  interesting 
species.  It  abounds  among  the  brushwood  of 
neglected  fields  and  pastures,  about  fences  and 
the  borders  of  woods,  from  the  Eastern  to  the 
Southern  states.  Being  of  rapid  growth,  it  is 
frequently  troublesome  to  the  farmer  by  spread- 


XTjyi/r 


* 


JT".-?: 


a  ^,i.' 


?   ■■I',/ 


del*  tli 


QtlVbi 


he  U,\ 


JlTz^-tn.  &   Smr^t-  Sc 


TALL  BLACKBERRY.  163 

©f  resins,  but  exhibits  a  floctulent  appearance  like 
that  of  congulated  mucilage.  These  flocculi, 
however,  when  collected  and  dried,  exhibit  the 
common  resinous  properties  on  exposure  to  heato 
I  subjected  the  dried  bark  to  distillation,  but  the 
distilled  water  was  nearly  insipid,  possessing  only 
a  very  slight  flavour  of  the  root. 

1  he  properties  of  this  bark  ai'e  those  of  a  very 
powerful  astringent.  I  have  tried  its  operation  . 
sufficiently  to  become  satisfied  of  its  efficacy  both 
internally  and  externally  used  in  a  variety  of  cases 
which  admit  of  relief  from  medicines  of  its  class. 
It  is  true  that  our  list  of  vegetable  astringents  has 
become  very  numerous  and  the  cases  which  re- 
quire them  are  perhaps  less  frequent  than  vfas 
formerly  imagined  ;  yet  as  we  continue  to  im- 
port and  consume  various  foreign  medicines  of 
this  kind,  we  ought  not  to  exclude  from  attention 
native  articles  of  equal  efficacy.  Professor  Chap- 
man, of  Philadelphia,  expresses  a  very  decided 
opinion  in  regard  to  the  powers  of  this  substance. 
"  Of  the  vegetable  astringents,"  says  he,  ''this  I 
have  reason  to  believe  is  among  the  most  active 
and  decidedly  efficacious  in  certain  cases.  To 
the  declining  stages  of  dysentery  after  the  symp- 
toms of  active  inflammation  are  removed,  it  i^ 
well  suited,  though  I  have  given  it.  T  think,  with 


164  IIUBUS  VILLOSUS, 

greater  advatitage  under  nearly  similar  circum- 
stances, in  cholera  infantum.  To  check  the  in- 
ordinate evacuations  which  commonly  attend  the 
protracted  cases  of  this  disease,  no  remedy  has 
ever  done  so  much  in  my  hands.  Even  two  or 
three  doses  will  sometimes  so  bind  the  bowels 
that  purgatives  became  necessary.  Being  so 
powerfully  astringent,  this  medicine  is  useful  in 
all  excessive  purgings,  and  especially  in  the  di- 
arrhea of  very  old  people,  as  well  as  when  it  oc- 
curs at  the  close  of  diseases.  During  my  atten- 
dance in  our  public  institutions  I  had  abundant 
opportunities  of  testing  its  efficacy  in  these  cases." 

The  fruit  of  the  blackberry  is  among  the 
most  delicious  productions  of  the  uncultivated 
forest.  To  an  agreeable  combination  of  sweetness 
and  acid  it  adds  an  aromatic  fragrance  which  is 
surpassed  by  few  of  the  lighter  fruits  produced 
among  us.  It  differs  in  size  and  perfection  in 
different  seasons,  warm  and  dry  summers  being 
most  favourable  to  its  perfect  maturity.  Our 
markets,  however,  are  rarely  destitute  of  this  fine 
fruit  in  the  months  of  August  and  September. 

Some  other  species  of  Rubus  are  closely  allied 
to  this  in  the  qualities  of  their  fruit  and  bark, 
particularly  the  Miibus  procumbens,  commonly 
called  low  or  running  blackberry  or  dewberry. 


TALL  BLACKBERRY.  165 

The  fruit  of  this  species  is  usually  larger  but 
produced  in  smaller  quantity  from  the  inflores- 
cence b^ing  nearly  solitary.  The  bark  is  not  less 
astringent  than  in  the  present  species. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rubus  villosus,  Aiton,  Kew,  ii.  210. — ^Wiildenow,  ii.  1085. 
-MiCHATJX,  i.  £97. — PuESH,  i.  346. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Chapmaw,  Therapeutics  and  Mat,  Med,  ii.  474.^.Thacheii, 
nisp.  341. 


PLATE  XXXVIII. 

Fig.  1.  Jl  specimen  of  Rubus  viUosus  in  Aower. 

Fig.  2.  Stamen. 

Fig.  3.  Pistils, 

Fig.  4.  The  ripe  fruit. 


CASSIA  MARILAISBICA. 


Jiniericmi  Senna, 


FLJiTE  XXXIX, 

A  HIS  tall  and  luxuriant  plant  is  found  in  rich 
soils  ill  the  vicinity  of  water  from  New  England 
to  Carolina,  and  westward  to  the  banks  of  the 
Missouri.  The  most  northern  situation  in  which 
I  have  known  it  decidedly  indigenous,  is  on  tlie 
banks  of  the  Quinebaug  river  near  the  southern 
boundary  of  Massachusetts.  It  is,  liowever,  cul- 
tivated in  gardens  for  medicinal  use  much  further 
to  the  north.  It  is  a  vigorous  herbaceous  peren- 
nial with  stalks  four  or  five  feet  high,  having 
their  summits  covered  in  July  and  August  with 
brilliant  yellow  flowers. 

The  extensive  genus  Cassia  has  a  five-leaved 
calyoc  and  five  petals  ;  anthers  unequal,  the  three 
uppermost  harren,   the   three    lowermost    longer, 


iL     ^ 


A  /t_^^t 


a  .4  . 


■i  ':^'^..^ 


i 


rx>.  .r%  ^ 


2  3  4-  O 


i'tt 


A  ' 

Us, 


AMERICAN  SENNA.  169 

senibles  it  in  its  medicinal  virtues.*  Neither  of 
tbese  plants  is  to  be  ranked  among  the  most  ac- 
tive cathartics,  and  they  require  to  be  taken  in 
much   larger   quantities    than   aloes,  rhubarb   or 

*  There  is  no, doubt  that  the  true  Alexandrian  Senna  is  the 
product  of  the  Cassia  Senna  of  Linnseus  and  of  Willdenow.  La- 
marck has  occasioned  an  unnecessary  confusion  on  this  subject,  and 
misled  other  botanists,  bj  changing  the  Linnasan  name  C.  senna  to 
C.  lanceolata  ;  while  he  has  appropriated  the  name  C.  senna  to  the 
variety  /3  of  Linnseus,  which  is  the  Italian  senna,  since  very  properly 
named  C.  Ifalica.  See  Rees'  Cyclopedia,  Art.  Cassia,  &c.  The 
African  plant  is  accounted  the  most  active,  although  the  Italian  Sen- 
na cultivated  in  Jamaica,  according  to  Dr.  Wright,  proved  fully- 
equal  to  it  in  efficacy. 

The  greater  part  of  the  Senna  consumed  in  the  United  States  is 
imported  from  the  East  Indies.  Smaller  quantities  occasionally  reach 
us  from  different  ports  of  the  Mediterranean  and  Red  seas.  The 
common  India  senna  has  a  lanceolate  leaf  narrow  and  acute;  pe- 
tioles Vv'ithout  glands,  bearing  from  five  to  nine  pairs  of  leaves;  and 
a  flat  oblong  curved  legume.  Medicinally  considered,  it  is  one  of 
the  most  valuable  sorts,  operating  with  mildness  and  certainty.  The 
facility  and  cheapness  with  which  it  is  obtained  in  India,  has  long 
caused  it  to  predominate  in  our  markets. 

The  India  senna,  which  I  have  examined,  has  been  very  pure, 
consisting  only  of  leaves  of  Cassia.  The  Egyptian  has  frequently  a 
slight  admixture  of  foreign  leaves  which  are  nauseous  and  bitter. 

The  Cassia  senna  would  doubtless  succeed  in  our  Southern 
states.  The  product,  consisting  of  the  whole  leaves  of  the  plant, 
must  necessarily  be  large,  and  would  well  reward  the  attention  of 
planters.  Ripe  seeds  may  probably  be  found  among  the  senna  of  the 
shops  which  will  vegetate,  if  not  too  old.  According  to  Roxburgh 
and  Carey,  the  Arabian  senna  cultivated  at  the  Bengal  garden  is  a 
biennial  plant. 

22 


170  CASSIA  MARILANDICA. 

jalap,  to  produce  their  desired  effect.  Hence  the 
common  form  of  administering  senna  is  in  in- 
fusion, a  large  portion  being  made  to  communi- 
cate its  strength  to  water  at  a  time.  As  far  as  I 
have  been  able  to  observe,  about  one  third  more 
of  the  Cassia  mai^ilandica  is  required  to  produce 
a  given  effect,  than  of  the  C.  senna.  This  objec- 
tion will  prevent  it  from  superseding  the  senna 
of  the  shops,  although  the  facility,  with  which  it 
may  be  raised  in  any  part  of  the  United  States, 
will  render  it  a  convenient  medicine  where  cheap- 
ness is  an  object.  It  is  already  cultivated  in 
gardens  for  medicinal  use,  and  the  infusion  and 
decoction  are  considerably  employed  by  families 
and  country  practitioners. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cassia  Marilandica,  Liif.  Sp.  pi. — Marttn,  Cent.  t.  23. — 
MiCHATJX,  Flora,  i.  261. — Puhsh,  i.  306. — Nuttajll,  i.  280. — 
Cassia  mimosse  foliis,  &c. — Duxenius,  t.  260,/.  339. 

MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

B.  S.  BARToif,  Coll.  32. — Thachee,  Bisp.  178, — Chap- 
man-, Therapentics. 

PLATE  XXXIX. 

Fig.  1.  Cassia  Marilandica. 

Fig.  2.  The  three  upper  stamens. 

Fig.  3.  The  fourth  andjifth  ditto. 

Fig.  4.  The  sixth  and  seventh  ditto. 

Fig.  5.  The  three  lowest  ditto. 

Fig.  6.  *3  legume.  ' 


J'l.XL 


^ceoi!^^^-n.<!^     t^ya/^^^^^j^ny 


Annin,  te  ^miM   Sc 


OTCOTIANA  TABACUM. 


Tobacco, 


PLATE  XL, 

At  the  time  of  the  discovery  of  America  the 
Tobacco  plant  was  cultivated  by  the  natives  in 
the  West  India  islands  and  in  different  parts  of 
the  continent,  especially  those  bordering  on  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico.  Whatever  may  have  been  its 
native  climate,  we  need  not  trace  it  farther  back 
than  this  period ;  and  can  incur  but  little  risk 
in  considering  it  as  indigenous  to  the  southern 
parts  of  the  United  States  in  their  present  enlarg- 
ed extent,  [p^ote  B.]  It  is  an  annual  plant  capable 
of  perfecting  its  flowers  and  fruit  in  almost  any 
part  of  the  Union,  yet  seldom  found  growing 
spontaneously  except  in  cultivated  grounds  or 
their  vicinity. 


17^  NICOTIAN  A  TABACUM. 

The  genus  J^icotiana  lias  a  funnel-shaped  co- 
rolla^ with  its  border  somewhat  plaited.  Stamens 
inclined ;  stigma  emarginate.  Capsule  two-celled, 
two  or  four-valved.  The  species  Tabacum,  re- 
presented in  our  plate,  has  its  leaves  ovate-lanceo- 
late, sessile,  decurrent ;  jlozvers  panicled,  acute. 

Class  Fentandria,  order  Monogynia.  Natural 
orders  Lnridc^,  Linn.   Solanacew,  Juss. 

The  common  Tobacco  has  a  long  fibrous  root; 
a  stalk  five  or  six  feet  high,  erect,  round,  hairy, 
and  viscid,  branching  at  top.  Leaves  sessile,  very 
large,  ovate  or  lanceolate,  acuminate,  viscid,  of  a 
pale  green  colour.  Bractes  linear,  acute.  Flow- 
ers forming  a  panicle  on  the  ends  of  the  stem  and 
branches.  Calyx  swelling,  hairy,  glutinous,  half 
as  long  as  the  corolla,  ending  in  five  acute  seg- 
ments. Corolla  funnel-shaped,  swelling  toward 
the  top,  the  border  expanding,  with  five  acute 
lobes  ;  the  tube  of  a  greenish  white,  the  border 
red.  Filaments  inclined  to  one  side,  with  oblong 
anthers.  Germ  ovate,  style  long  and  slender, 
stigma  cloven.  Capsule  ovate,  invested  with  the 
calyx,  two-celled,  two-valved,  but  opening  cross- 
wise at  top  ;  partition  contrary  to  the  valves. 
Seeds  very  numerous,  small,  somewhat  reniform, 
attached  to  a  fleshy  receptacle. 


TOBACCO.  173 

It  is  a  remarkable  law  of  the  animal  economy, 
that  the  power  of  use  and  habit  is  capable  of 
reconciling  the  system  to  bear  with  impunity 
what  in  its  unaccustomed  state  proves  highly 
deleterious  and  even  fatal.  It  is  a  fact  that  most 
substances  in  the  Materia  Medica  lose  their  effect 
after  the  continuance  of  their  use  for  a  certain 
length  of  time,  so  that  if  we  would  realize  their 
original  operation,  we  must  increase  their  dose  in 
proportion  as  the  body  becomes  accustomed 
and  insensible  to  their  stimulus.  This  is  partic- 
ularly exemplified  in  the  narcotics.  Many  of 
these  substances,  which  at  first  are  not  only  nau- 
seous and  disgusting  in  their  sensible  qualities, 
but  highly  injurious  in  their  influence  upon 
health  ;  are  so  changed  in  their  effect  by  habitual 
use,  as  to  become  to  those  who  employ  them  an 
innocent  and  indispensible  comfort  and  a  first 
rate  luxury  of  life. 

In  its  external  and  sensible  properties,  there 
is  no  plant  which  has  less  to  recommend  it  than 
the  common  Tobacco.  Its  taste  in  the  green 
state  is  acrid,  nauseous  and  repulsive,  and  a  small 
quantity  taken  into  the  stomach  excites  violent 
vomiting,  attended  with  other  alarming  symp- 
toms. Yet  the  first  person  who  had  courage  and 
patience  enough  to  persevere  in  its  use,  until  hab- 


174^  NICOTIAN  A  TABACUM. 

it  had  overcome  his  original  disgust,  eventually 
found  in  it  a  pleasing  sedative,  a  soother  of  care, 
and  a  material  addition  to  the  pleasures  of  life. 
Its  use,  which  originated  among  savages,  has 
spread  into  every  civilized  country ;  it  has  made 
its  way  against  the  declamations  of  the  learned, 
and  the  prohihitions  of  civil  and  religious  author- 
ity, and  it  now  gives  rise  to  an  extensive  branch 
of  agriculture,  or  of  commerce,  in  every  part  of 
the  globe. 

Tobacco  was  in  use  among  the  aborigines  of 
America,  at  the  time  of  its  dicovery.  They  em- 
ployed it  as  incense  in  their  sacrificial  fires, 
believing  that  the  odour  of  it  was  grateful  to  their 
gods.  The  priests  of  some  tribes  swallowed  the 
smoke  of  this  plant  to  excite  in  them  a  spirit  of 
divination,  and  this  they  did  to  a  degree  which 
threw  them  into  a  stupor  of  many  hours  continu- 
ance. When  recovered  from  this  fit  of  intoxica- 
tion, they  asserted  that  they  had  held  a  confer- 
ence with  the  devil,  and  had  learned  from  him  the 
com^se  of  future  events.  Their  physicians  also 
got  inebriated  with  this  smoke,  and  pretended 
that  while  under  the  influence  of  this  intoxication 
they  were  admitted  to  the  council  of  the  gods, 
who  revealed  to  them  the  evient  of  diseases.  Har- 
riot. 


TOBACCO.  175 

In  1559  Tobacco  was  sent  into  Spain  and  Por- 
tugal by  Hernandez  de  Toledo,  and  from  tlience 
it  was  carried  into  France  as  a  curiosity  by  Jean 
Nicot  or  Nicotius,  ambassador  at  the  court  of  Lis- 
bon, whose  name  is  now  immortalized  by  its 
application  to  this  genus  of  plants.  From  this 
period  the  use  of  tobacco  spread  rapidly  through 
the  continent,  and  in  half  a  century  it  was  known 
in  most  countries  in  Europe.  The  rich  indulged 
in  it,  as  a  luxury  of  the  highest  kind;  and  the  poor 
gave  themselves  up  to  it,  as  a  solace  for  the  mis- 
eries of  life.  Its  use  became  so  sjeneral  and  so 
excessive,  that  in  many  countries,  the  constituted 
authorities,  both  of  church  and  state,  found  it 
necessary  to  interpose,  and  to  stop  the  extrava- 
gant indulgence  in  it  by  the  severest  prohibi- 
tions. James  the  First  of  England,  besides  writ- 
ing a  book  against  it,  called  his  "  Counterblast  to 
Tobacco,"  gave  orders  that  no  planter  in  Yirginia 
should  cultivate  more  than  one  hundred  pounds. 
Pope  Urban  the  Eighth  published  a  decree  of 
excommunication  against  all  wiio  took  snuff  in 
the  church.  Smoking  was  forbidden  in  Russia 
under  penalty  of  having  the  nose  cut  off.  In 
Switzerland  a  tribunal  (Chamhre  dii  tabacj  was 
instituted  for  the  express  purpose  of  trying  trans- 
gressors in  Tobacco.      A.  Turk,  who  was  found 


176  NICOTIAN  A  TABACUM. 

smokin^^  in  Constantinople,  'was  conducted 
through  the  streets  of  that  city  with  his  pipe 
transfixed  through  his  nose. 

Even  in  this  country,  where  the  use  of  Tobac- 
co originated,  we  find  our  puritanic  ancestors 
guarding  against  its  abuse  by  salutary  statutes. 
In  the  old  Massachusetts  colony  laws  is  an  act 
laying  a  penalty  upon  any  one  "  who  shall  smoke 
tobacco  within  twenty  poles  of  any  house ;"  or 
who  shall  "take  tobacco  in  any  inn  or  common 
victualling  house,  except  in  a  private  room,  so  as 
that  neither  the  master  of  the  said  house  nor  any 
other  guest  shall  take  offence  thereat." — ^In  the 
earliest  records  of  Harvard  University  soon  after 
its  foundation,  is  a  regulation  of  this  kind.  "  No 
scholar  shall  take  tobacco,  unless  permitted  by  the 
president,  with  the  consent  of  their  parents  and 
guardians,  and  on  good  reason  first  given  by  a 
physician,  and  then  in  a  sober  and  private  man- 
ner." 

While  the  legal  authorities  in  various  parts  of 
the  world  took  upon  tliem  to  control  the  abuse 
of  this  fascinating  weed,  the  literati  of  different 
countries  entered  warmly  into  the  discussion  of 
its  merits  and  its  faults.  Among  its  advocates 
were  Castor  Duranti  and  Raphael  Thorius,  both  of 
whom  wrote  Latin  poems  expressly  in  its  praise. 


TOBACCO.  177 

The  perform ance  of  the  latter  is  entitled  a 
"Hjmn  to  Tobacco,"  and  is  very  lavish  in  ascrip- 
tions to  this  plant,  which  he  styles  the  '•  gift  of 
heaven  and  the  ornament  of  earth."  So  warm, 
were  the  prejudices  of  its  advocates,  that  it  ob- 
tained the  reputation  of  a  general  panacea,  and 
the  catalogue  of  diseases  which  it  was  announced 
to  ciu^e,  amounted  almost  to  a  complete  nosology. 

But  the  opinions  of  its  adversaries  were  not 
less  extravagant  upon  the  other  extreme.  It  is 
remarkable  that  in  the  days  of  its  first  general  in- 
troduction, no  man  spoke  about  it  with  coolness 
or  indifference,  but  every  one  warmly  espoused  its 
censure  or  its  praise.  Camden,  in  his  life  of 
Queen  Elizabeth,  says,  that  men  used  Tobacco 
every  where,  some  for  wantonness  and  some  for 
health's  sake;  and  that  "with  insatiable  desire 
and  greediness,  they  sucked  the  stinking  smoke 
thereof  through  an  earthen  pipe,  whicli  they 
presently  blevr  out  again  at  their  nostrils  ; — so 
that  Englishmen's  bodies  were  so  delighted  with 
this  plant,  that  they  seemed  as  it  were  degener- 
ated into  barbarians." 

Dr.  Yenner  iu  a  work  entitled  Via  recta  ad 
vitam  longam,  published  at  London  in  1638,  gives 
a  brief  summary  of  the  injuries  done  by  Tobacco. 
"  It  drieth  the  brain,  dimmeth  the  sight,  vitiatetli 

9  3 


178  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

the  smell,  hurteth  the .  stomach,  destroyeth  the 
concoction,  disturbeth  the  humours  and  spirits, 
corrupteth  the  hi-^ath,  induceth  a  trembling  of 
the  limbs,  exsiccateth  the  winde  pipe,  lungs  and 
liver,  annoyeth  the  milt,  scorcheth  the  heart  and 
causeth  the  blood  to  be  adusted.  In  a  word,  it 
overthroweth  the  spirits,  perverteth  the  under- 
standing, and  confoundeth  the  senses  with  sudden 
astonishment  and  stupiditie  of  the  whole  body." 
A  poetical  phillippic,  called  "  Tobacco  batter- 
red,"  was  published  in  the  reign  of  King  James 
by  Joshua  Sylvester,  in  which  he  compares  Tobac- 
co to  gunpowder,  and  pipes  to  guns  ;  making  the 
mischief  of  the  two  equal.  But  the  most  cele- 
brated of  all  invectives  against  Tobacco  was  the 
"  Counterblast"  of  King  James  I.  That  weak 
monarch  gave  vent  to  his  prejudices  against  this 
herb  in  a  publication,  in  which  he  professes  to 
disprove  all  the  alleged  grounds  for  the  toleration 
of  Tobacco,  and  warns  his  subjects  in  a  most 
earnest  manner  not  to  sin  against  Ood,  and  harm 
their  own  persons  and  goods,  and  render  them- 
selves scorned  and  contemned  by  strangers,  who 
should  come  among  them ;  by  persevering  in  a 
custom  loathsome  to  the  eye,  hateful  to  the  nose^ 
and  banetul  to  the  brain." 


TOBACCO.  179 

Such  were  the  commotions  excited  hy  the 
introduction  and  spreading  of  an  article,  whose 
use  has  now  become  so  common  as  scarcely  to 
attract  notice.  This  article  is  the  product  of 
several  species  of  Nicotiana,  but  chiefly  of  the  N. 
tabacum  or  Virginian  Tobacco,  and  the  'N.  rustica, 
sometimes  called  English  Tobacco,  and  being  the 
sort  which  Sir  Walter  Raleigh  introduced  at  the 
court  of  ftueen  Elizabeth.  Another  species,  -^. 
fruticosa,  is  said  to  have  been  cultivated  in  the 
East  prior  to  the  discovery  of  America.  The 
Indians  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  and  Colum- 
bia rivers  cultivate  for  use  the  'N.  quadrivaivis  of 
Pursh  and  N^uttall.  It  has  been  remarked  that 
the  Tobacco  of  warm  climates  is  more  mild  in  its 
flavour,  while  that  raisetl  in  colder  latitudes  is 
more  strong  and  pungent.  The  Bengal  Tobac- 
co, of  which  the  sheroots  are  made,  is  one  of  the 
most  weak  and  mild  in  its  properties.  After  this 
is  the  West  India  Tobacco  which  aifords  the  Ha- 
vanna  cigars.  Kext  is  the  Tobacco  of  our  South- 
ern States,  and  lastly  the  Tobacco  raised  in  the 
northern  parts  of  the  Union,  which  is  the  most 
acrimonious  and  pungent  of  all.* 

*  Several  varieties  of  JSTlcotlana  Tabacum  are  cultivated  in  the 
United  States,  of  which  the  principal  are  the  broad  leaved  or  sweet 
scented^  and  the  narrow  leaved. 


180  NICOTIAN  A  TABACUM. 

An  elaborate  chemical  analysis  of  Tobacco, 
lias  been  published  by  M.  Vauquelin  in  the 
Jlnnales  tie  Chimie.  His  results  are,  that  the 
broad  leaved  Tobacco  furnishes  from  its  juices 
the  followin^^  constituents.  1.  A  large  quantity 
of  animal  matter  of  an  albuminous  nature, 
2.  Malate  of  lime  with  an  excess  of  acid.  3.  Ace- 
tic acid.  4.  Nitrate  and  muriate  of  potash  in 
observable  quantities.  5,  A  red  matter  soluble 
in  alcohol  and  water,  which  swells  and  boils  in 
the  fire,  its  nature  undetermined.  6.  Muriate  of 
ammuiiia.  7.  A  peculiar  acrid,  volatile,  colour- 
less substance,  soluble  in  water  and  alcohol,  and 
which  appears  different  from  any  thing  known 
in  the  vegetable  kingdom.  It  is  this  principle 
which  gives  to  prepared  Tobacco  its  peculiar 
character,  and  it  is  perhaps  not  to  be  found  in  any 
other  species  of  plant.  The  medicinal  activity  of 
Tobacco  evidently  resides  in  this  volatile  portion, 
for  both  the  extract  and  decoction  of  the  plant  by 
long  boiling  become  nearly  inert,  while  the  es- 
sential or  the  empyreumatic  oil  is  one  of  the  most 
deadly  poisons  known. 

Among  the  substances  used  by  Mr.  Brodie  in 
his  experiments  or  vegetable  poisons^  was  the 
empyreumatic  oil  of  Tobacco  prepared  by  Mr. 
Brande  by  distilling  the  leaves  of  Tobacco  in  a 


TOBACCO.  181 

heat  above  that  of  boiling  water.  A  quantity  of 
watery  fluid  came  over,  on  the  surface  of  which 
was  a  film  of  unctuous  substance,  which  he  calls 
the  erapyreumatic  oil.  Mr.  Brodie  found  that 
two  drops  of  this  oil  applied  to  the  tongue  of  a 
young  cat  with  an  interval  of  fifteen  minutes 
occasioned  death.  A  single  drop  suspended  in 
an  ounce  of  water  and  injected  into  the  rectum 
of  a  cat,  produced  death  in  about  five  minutes. 
One  drop  suspended  in  an  ounce  and  a  half  of 
mucilage  and  thrown  into  the  rectum  of  a  dog, 
produced  violent  symptoms,  and  a  repetition  of 
the  experiment  killed  him. 

Tobacco  has  been  used  both  as  a  luxury  and 
prophylactic,  and  as  a  medicine.  In  the  former 
cases  it  has  not  been  taken  internally,  but  only 
kept  in  contact  with  absorbing  surfaces.  It  is 
well  known,  that  to  the  mouth  it  is  applied  in 
substance  and  in  smoke  ;  and  to  the  nose  in  the 
form  of  powder.  The  opinion  which  at  one  time 
prevailed  of  its  power  to  prolong  life  and  to 
secure  immunity  from  diseases  is  now  pretty 
fully  abandoned.  It  has  no  prophylactic  reputa- 
tion except  as  a  preservation  for  the  teeth,  and  in 
some  degree  as  a  protection  against  the  conta- 
gion of  epidemics.  In  both  these  cases  it  is 
entitled  to  a  certain  degree  of  confidence,  though 


182  NICOTIANA  TABACUM. 

it  is  probably  inferior  to  many  otber  substances 
for  both  these  purposes. 

As  to  its  effects  upon  longevity,  the  great 
frequency  of  its  use  and  the  facts  and  observations 
of  Sir  John  Sinclair  render  it  improbable  that 
when  moderately  taken,  it  has  any  influence  in 
wearing  out  the  constitution,  or  abridging  the  usu- 
al period  of  life.  But  like  all  other  narcotics  its 
excessive  use  or  abuse  must  impair  the  health 
and  engender  disease.  Of  the  different  modes  of 
using  Tobacco,  I  imagine  that  smoking  is  the 
most  injurious,  and  the  most  capable  of  abuse, 
since  in  this  process  the  active  principles  of  the 
Tobacco  are  volatilized  with  the  smoke,  and  are 
extensively  applied  to  the  lungs  as  well  as  the 
mouth  and  nose  and  fauces. 

As  a  medicine,  this  plant  has  been  employed 
in  a  variety  of  ways  for  the  alleviation  and  cure 
of  diseases.  Externally  it  has  been  applied  with 
benefit  in  tinea  capitis  and  in  complaints  occa- 
sioned by  the  presence  of  insects.  In  the  form 
of  a  cataplasm  applied  to  the  pit  of  the  stomach 
it  occasions  severe  vomiting.  The  prostration  of 
strength  and  other  distressing  symptoms  which 
attend  this  application,  must  prevent  its  general 
employment.  Still  it  may  be  remembei*ed  as  an 
auxiliary  in  cases  where  other  emetics  have  failed 


TOBACCO.  183 

to  operate.  A  surgeon  in  the  U.  S.  army  inform- 
ed me  that  the  soldiers  had  an  expedient  to  ex- 
empt themselves  from  duty,  by  wearing  a  piece 
of  tobacco  under  each  armpit,  until  the  most 
alarming  symptoms  of  real  illness  appeared  in 
the  whole  system. 

Dr.  James  Currie  has  recorded  a  case  of  epi- 
lepsy cured  by  the  external  use  of  Tobacco.  A 
cataplasm  was  applied  to  the  stomach  for  several 
days  about  half  an  hour  before  the  expected  re- 
turn of  the  paroxysm.  A  violent  impression  was 
produced  each  time  upon  the  system,  the  parox- 
ysm prevented  and  the  diseased  association 
effectually  broken  up.  Two  cases  of  obstinate 
and  dangerous  intermittent  were  cured  in  the 
same  manner  by  a  decoction  of  half  a  drachm  of 
Tobacco  in  four  ounces  of  water,  thrown  up  as  an 
enema,  a  short  period  before  the  time  of  the 
paroxysm. 

The  Tobacco  enema  was  formerly  recom- 
mended in  colic,  nephritic  complaints,  ^c.  Of 
late  years  it  has  been  extensively  employed  in 
strangulated  hernia.  In  cases  of  this  complaint 
where  the  taxis  has  been  ineffectually  attempted 
and  the  usual  auxiliaries  have  fciiled,  an  injection 
made  by  infusing  half  a  drachm  of  Tobacco  in 
eight  ounces  of  boiling  water  for  ten  minutes,  is 


184j  nicotian  a  tabacuM. 

found  extremelj  useful.  If  assisted  by  the' local 
application  of  ice  to  the  part,  it  frequently  causes 
the  contents  of  the  sac  to  return  spontaneously, 
and  renders  the  operation  unnecessary,  which 
would  be  otherwise  unavoidable.  It  operates  by 
its  powerfully  sedative  and  rehiXing  effects,  as 
well  as  by  its  cathartic  property. 

lYhen  the  infusion  is  not  used,  an  injection  of 
Tobacco  smoke  into  the  rectum  frequently  pro- 
duces the  same  consequences.  The  smoke  may 
be  made  to  penetrate  farther  than  any  liquid,  and 
it  is  equally  efficacious,  from  the  activity  of  the 
volatile  parts.  It  was  formerly  much  used  in  the 
restoration  of  persons  apparently  dead  from 
drowning,  but  of  late  years  it  has  gone  more  into 
disuse.  From  the  sedative  effect  of  Tobacco,  the 
tendency  to  syncope  and  the  great  prostration 
of  strength  which  it  occasions  in  ordinary  cases  ; 
it  is  probable  that  its  employment  in  cases  of 
asphyxia  from  drowning,  must  assist  in  extin- 
guishing rather  than  in  rekindling  the  spark  of 
life. 

As  a  diuretic.  Tobacco  has  been  administered 
internally  in  doses  so  small  as  not  to  offend  the 
stomach,  with  very  good  effect.  Dr.  Fowler  has 
published  a  collection  of  facts  relative  to  its  use, 
principally  in  dropsy  and  dysury,  from  which  he 


TOBACCO.  185 

concludes  it  is  a  safe  and  eflicacious  diuretic.  In 
thirty  one  dropsical  cases  in  which  he  employed 
it,  eigliteen  were  cured  and  ten  relieved ;  and  out 
of  eighteen  cases  of  dysury,  ten  were  cured  and 
seven  relieved.  Dr.  Ferriar  and  several  subse- 
quent practitioners  have  found  it  a  valuable  diu- 
retic, although  CuUen  does  not  speak  very  en- 
couragingly of  its  use.  At  the  present  day  it 
does  not  seem  to  be  extensively  in  use,  having 
passed  into  neglect  rather  because  more  fashiona- 
ble remedies  have  superceded  it,  than  because  it 
has  really  been  weighed  and  found  wanting.  It 
will  always  deserve  trial  in  obstinate  dropsical 
cases  (and  such  cases  it  must  be  confessed  are  not 
rare)  in  wiiicli  the  more  common  remedies  have 
been  tried  without  benefit.  Of  the  various  for- 
mulas recommended  by  Dr.  Fowler,  the  Wine  of 
Tobacco  is  the  only  one  preserved  in  the  Edin- 
burgh and  Massachusetts  pharmacopoeias,  being 
the  one  which  is  believed  to  extract  most  fully 
the  virtues  of  the  Tobacco.  It  is  made  by  di- 
gesting for  a  week,  an  ounce  of  the  dried  Tobac- 
co in  a  pound  of  Spanish  white  wine.  The  dose 
is  from  thirty  to  eighty  drops.  Dr.  Fowler  him- 
self however  believed  the  most  effectual  mode  of 
administering  the  Tobacco,  was  in  the  form  of 
pills  of  a  grain  each. 
%4i 


186  NICOTIAN  A  TABACUM. 

Tobacco  has  been  employed  with  some  suc- 
cess m  the  locked  jaw,  both  of  warm  and  cold 
climates.  Mr.  Duncan,  surgeon  of  Grenada,  has 
published  ia  the  Edinburgh  Journal  the  account 
of  a  verj  distressing  case  of  this  kind,  which  was 
relieved  and  finally  cured  principally  by  enemas 
of  Tobacco  smoke.  These  applications  generally 
produced  syncope  and  deathlike  sickness  in  the 
patient,  but  by  prudent  management  of  them,  the 
disease  was  entirely  overcome,  and  recovery  took 
place.  Dr.  Holmes  of  Worcester  county,  Mass. 
exhibited  the  infusion  of  Tobacco,  to  a  patient 
under  violent  tetanus,  after  the  more  common 
remedies  had  been  fully  tried  without  effect. 
The  spasms  were  completely  removed  and  the 
patient  recovered. 

This  powerful  medicine  has  been  also  em- 
ployed with  some  palliative  effect  in  hydrophobia 
and  certain  other  spasmodic  diseases.  Its  in- 
ternal use  however  requires  great  caution,  since 
patients  have  in  various  instances  been  destroyed 
by  improper  quantities  administered  by  the 
hands  of  the  unskilful  or  unwary.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  common  use  and  extensive  consumption 
of  Tobacco  in  its  various  forms,  it  must  unques- 
tionably be  ranked  among  narcotic  poisons  of 
the  most  active  class.     The  great  prostration  of 


TOBACCO.  187 

Strength,  excessive  giddiness,  fainting,  and  vio- 
lent affections  of  the  alimentary  canal,  which 
often  attend  its  internal  use,  make  it  proper  tliat 
so  potent  a  drug  should  be  resorted  to  by  medi- 
cal men,  only  in  restricted  doses  and  on  occa- 
sions of  magnitude. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Nicotiana  tabacum,  Lin.  sp.  pi. — Aiton,  Kew.  i.  241. — 
'WooBYijjJE.f  Med.  Bot.U77.  Blackwelx,  L  146.— Pujbsh,  i, 
141. — NuTTAii,  i.  132. 

MEDICAL  AND  OTHER  REFERENCES. 

■Murray,  Apparatus,  i.  681. — Wafer,  Travels,  102 — Har- 
riott, Voyage  to  Virginia, — Hakiuyt,  75. — Everard,  de  her. 
ba  panacea,  S^c.  1583. — Chrysostom  Magnenus,  Exerdta- 
tiones  14,  de  Tabaco. — King  James  I.  Works,  London,  1616 — 
Short,  Biscoiirses  on  Tea,  Tohacco,  c^-c. — Bientema,  Tahacolo- 
gia  in  1690. — Hahn,  Tabacologia,  Jence. — Gerard,  Eistorie  of 
Plants,  360. — VAUCiUELiN,  Jimmies  de  Chimie,  1809. — Edinburgh 
Med,  Comment,  xl.  327. — Desgranges,  Journal  de  Medicine, 
1791. — CuiLEN,  Mat.  Med. — Fowler,  Med.  Reports  on  Tobacco, 
Svo,  Lond. — Tatham,  on  the  Culttire  and  Commerce  of  Tobacco, 
Lond.  1800. — Med,  and  Phtjs.  Journal,  Vol.  24,  25,  et  passim.-— 
Duncan,  Repr.  in  JV.  Engl.  Journal  for  1814. — Ferriar,  Jfe^f. 
Hist.  i.  75,  and  ii.  152. — ^Pott.  ii.  72,  85,  ^-c.' — ^Wattsrston, 
Memoir  on  the  Tobacco  plant,  Washington,  1817. 

PLATE  XL. 

Fig.  1.  J\'*icotiana  tabacum. 
Fig.  2.  Capside. 

Fig.  3.  Ripe  capsule  opening  at  top. 
Fig.  4.  Transverse  section. 


NOTES. 

JSTote  A. 
A  memoir  on  the  cultivation  and  use  of  Asdepias  Sijraica,  by 
J.  A.  Moller,  may  be  found  in  Tilloch's  Philosophical  Magazine, 
Vol.  viii.  p.  149.  Its  chief  uses  were /for  beds,  cloth,  hats  and 
paper.  It  was  found  that  from  eight  to  nine  pounds  of  the  silk 
occupied  a  space  of  from  five  to  six  cubic  feet,  and  were  suffi- 
cient for  a  bed,  coverlet  and  two  pillows. — The  shortness  of  the 
fibre  prevented  it  from  being  spun  and  woven  alone.  It  how- 
ever was  mixed  with  flax,  wool,  &c.  in  certain  stuffs  to  advan- 
tage. Hats  made  with  it  were  very  light  and  soft.  The 
stalks  afforded  paper  in  every  respect  resembling  that  obtained 
from  rags.  The  plant  is  easily  propagated  by  seeds  or  slips. 
A  plantation  containing  thirty  thousand  plants  yeilded  from  six 
liundred  to  eight  hundred  pounds  of  silk. 

JS^ote  B. 
Tobacco  was  discovered  in  Cuba,  Florida  and  JNIexlco,  near- 
ly three  centuries  ago,  and  was  soon  after  introduced  from  this 
continent  into  Europe.  Whether  or  not  any  species  of  it  was 
cultivated  in  the  East  before  the  discovery  of  America,  is  a 
point  of  no  consequence  in  regard  to  its  American  nativity. 
The  extent  of  country  throughout  which  it  was  used  by  the  ab- 
origines of  this  continent,  renders  it  probable  that  it  must  have 
heen  cultivated  in  various  parts  of  America  for  many  centuries 
previous  to  its  discovery. 


NOTES.  189 

The  following  account  of  the  present  mode  of  cultivating^ 
Tobacco  in  our  Southern  States  is  extracted  from  Jin  Historical 
and  Practical  Essay  on  the  Culture  and  Commerce  of  Tobacco.    By 
William  Tatham.     London,  1800. 

First,  of  preparing  the  Tobacco  Ground. 

<*  There  are  two  distinct  and  separate  methods  of  preparing 
the  Tobacco  ground :  the  one  is  applicable  to  the  preparation  of 
new  and  uncultivated  lands,  such  as  are  in  a  state  of  nature,  and 
require  to  be  cleared  of  the  heavy  timber  and  other  productions 
with  which  Providence  has  stocked  them ;  and  the  other  method 
is  designed  to  meliorate  and  revive  lands  of  good  foundation, 
which  have  been  heretofore  cultivated,  and,  in  some  measure, 
exhausted  by  the  calls  of  agriculture  and  evaporation. 

<*  The  process  of  preparing  new  lands  begins  as  early  in  the 
winter  as  the  housing  and  managing  the  antecedent  crop  will 
permit,  by  grubbing  the  under  growth  with  a  mattock  ;  felling 
the  timber  with  a  poll-axe  ;  lopping  off  the  tops,  and  cutting  the 
bodies  into  lengths  of  about  eleven  feet,  which  is  about  the  cus- 
tomary length  of  an  American  fence  rail,  in  what  is  called  a 
worm  or  pannel  fence.  During  this  part  of  the  process  the  ne- 
gro women,  boys,  and  weaker  labourers,  are  employed  in  piling 
or  throwing  the  brush-wood,  roots,  and  small  wood,  into  heaps 
to  be  burned  ;  and  after  such  logs  or  stocks  are  selected  as  are 
suitable  to  be  mailed  into  rails,  make  clap-boards,  or  answer  for 
other  more  particular  occasions  of  the  planter,  the  remaining 
logs  are  rolled  into  heaps  by  means  of  hand-spikes  and  skids ; 
but  the  Pennsylvania  and  German  farmers,  who  are  more  con- 
versant with  animal  powers  than  the  Virginians,  save  much  of 
this  labour  by  the  use  of  a  pair  of  horses  with  a  half  sledge,  or  a 
pair  of  truck  wheels.  The  burning  of  this  brush-wood,  and  the 
log  piles,  is  a  business  for  all  hands  after  working  hours  5  and 
as  nightly  revels  are  peculiar  to  the  African  constitution,  this 


190  NOTES. 

part  of  the  labour  proves  often  a  very  late  employment,  which 
affords  many  scenes  of  rustic  mirth. 

"  When  this  process  has  cleared  the  land  of  its  various  natu- 
I'al  incumbrances,  (to  attain  which  end  is  very  expensive  and 
laborious,)  the  next  part  of  the  process  is  that  of  the  hoe ;  for 
the  plough  is  an  implement  which  is  rarely  used  in  new  lands 
when  they  are  either  designed  for  tobacco  or  meadow. 

"  There  are  three  kinds  of  the  hoe  which  are  applied  to  this 
tillage :  the  first  is  what  is  termed  the  sprouting  hoe,  which  is  a 
smaller  species  of  mattock  that  serves  to  break  up  any  particu- 
lar hard  part  of  the  ground,  to  grub  up  any  smaller  sized  grubs 
which  the  mattock  or  grubbing  hoe  may  have  omitted,  to  remove 
small  stones  and  other  partial  impediments  to  the  next  process. 

"  The  narrow  or  hilling  hoe  follows  the  operation  of  the 
sprouting  hoe.  It  is  generally  from  six  to  eight  inches  wide, 
and  ten  or  twelve  in  the  length  of  the  blade,  according  to  the 
strength  of  the  person  who  is  to  use  it ;  the  blade  is  thin,  and 
by  means  of  a  moveable  wedge  which  is  driven  into  the  eye  of 
the  hoe,  it  can  be  set  more  or  less  digging  (as  it  is  termed,)  that 
is,  on  a  greater  or  less  angle  with  the  helve,  at  pleasure.  In 
this  respect  there  are  few  instances  where  the  American  black- 
smith is  not  employed  to  alter  the  eye  of  an  JEn^Zis/i-made  hoe 
before  it  is  fit  for  use;  the  industrious  and  truly  useful  mer- 
chants of  Glasgow  have  paid  more  minute  attention  to  this  cir- 
cumstance. 

"  The  use  of  this  hoe  is  to  break  up  the  ground  and  throw  it 
into  shape  ;  which  is  done  by  chopping  the  clods  until  they  are 
sufficiently  fine,  and  then  drawing  the  earth  round  the  foot  until  it 
forms  a  heap  round  the  projected  leg  of  the  labourer  like  a  mole 
hill,  and  nearly  as  high  as  the  knee  5  he  then  draws  out  his  foot, 
flattens  the  top  of  the  hill  by  a  dah  with  the  flat  part  of  the  hoe, 
and  advances  forward  to  the  next  hill  in  the  same  manner,  until 
the  whole  piece  of  ground  is  prepared.    The  centre  of  these 


NOTES.  191 

liiils  are  in  this  manner  guessed  by  the  eye;  and  in  most  instan- 
ces they  approach  near  to  lines  of  four  feet  one  way,  and  three 
feet  the  other.  The  planter  always  endeavours  to  time  this 
operation  so  as  to  tally  with  the  growth  of  plants,  so  that  he 
may  he  certain  by  this  means  to  pitch  his  crop  within  season. 

«*  The  third  kind  of  hoe  is  the  broad  or  weeding  hoe.  This 
is  made  use  of  during  the  cultivation  of  the  crop,  to  keep  it 
clean  from  the  weeds.  It  is  wide  upon  the  edge,  say  from  ten 
inches  to  a  foot,  or  more ;  of  thinner  substance  than  the  hilling 
hoe,  not  near  so  deep  in  the  blade,  and  the  eye  is  formed  more 
bent  and  shelving  than  the  latter,  so  that  it  can  be  set  upon  a 
more  acute  angle  upon  the  helve  at  pleasure,  by  removing  the 
wedge. 

Of  the  Season  for  Planting. 

"  The  term,  season  for  planting,  signifies  a  sliower  of  rain 
of  sufficient  quantity  to  wet  the  eartli  to  a  degree  of  moisture 
which  may  render  it  safe  to  draw  the  young  plants  from  the 
plant  bed,  and  transplant  them  into  the  hilis  which  are  prepared 
for  them  in  the  field,  as  described  under  the  last  head;  and 
these  seasons  generally  commence  in  April,  and  terminate  with 
what  is  termed  the  long  season  in  Maij ;  which  (to  make  use  of 
an  Irishism)  very  frequently  happens  in  June  ;  and  is  the  op- 
portunity which  the  planter  finds  himself  necessitated  to  seize 
with  eagerness  for  the  pitching  of  his  crop  ;  a  term  which  com- 
prehends the  ultimate  opportunity  which  the  spring  will  afford 
him  for  planting  a  quantity  equal  to  the  capacity  of  the  collec- 
tive poMer  of  his  labourei's  when  applied  in  cultivation. 

"  By  the  time  wliich  these  seasons  approach,  nature  has  so 
ordered  vegetation,  that  the  weather  has  generally  enabled  the 
plants  (if  duly  sheltered  from  the  spring  froste,  a  circumstance 
to  which  a  planter  should  always  be  attentive  in  selecting  his 
plant  patch)  to  shoot  forward  in  sufficient  strength  to  bear  tlic 
vicissitude  of  transplantation. 


19S  NOTES. 

«  They  are  supposed  to  be  equal  to  meet  the  imposition  of 
this  task  when  the  leaves  are  about  the  size  of  a  dollar;  but  this 
is  more  generally  the  minor  magnitude  of  the  leaves;  and 
some  will  be  of  course  about  three  or  four  times  that  medium 
dimension. 

**  Thus,  when  a  good  shower  or  season  happens  at  this  pe- 
riod of  the  year,  and  the  field  and  plants  are  equally  ready  for 
the  intended  union,  the  planter  hurries  to  the  plant  bed,  disre- 
garding the  teeming  element,  which  is  doomed  to  wet  his  s'Kin, 
from  the  view  of  a  bountiful  harvest,  and  having  carefully  drawn 
the  largest  sizeable  plants,  he  proceeds  to  the  next  operation. 

Of  Flanting. 
« The  office  of  planting  the  tobacco  is  performed  by  two  or 
more  persons,  in  the  following  manner :  The  first  person  bears, 
suspended  upon  one  arm,  a  large  basket  full  of  the  plants  which 
have  been  just  drawn  and  brought  from  the  plant  bed  to  the 
field,  without  waiting  for  an  intermission  of  the  shower,  al- 
though it  should  rain  ever  so  heavily ;  such  an  opportunity 
indeed,  instead  of  being  sliunned,  is  eagerly  sought  after,  and  is 
considered  to  be  the  sure  and  certain  means  of  laying  a  good 
foundation,  which  cherishes  the  hope  of  a  bounteous  return. 
The  person  who  bears  the  basket  proceeds  thus  by  rows  from 
hill  to  hill ;  and  upon  each  hill  he  takes  care  to  drop  one  of  his 
plants.  Those  who  follow  make  a  hole  in  the  centre  of  each 
hill  with  their  fingers,  and  having  adjusted  the  tobacco  plant  in 
its  natural  jjosition,  they  knead  the  earth  round  the  root  with 
their  hands,  until  is  of  a  sufficient  consistency  to  sustain  the 
plant  against  wind  and  weather.  In  this  condition  they  leave 
the  field  for  a  few  days  until  the  plants  shall  have  formed  their 
radifications ;  and  where  any  of  them  shall  have  casually  per- 
islied,  the  ground  is  followed  over  again  by  successive  replant- 
ings,  until  the  crop  is  rendered  complete. 


NOTES.  193 

Of  Hoeing  the  Crop. 

« The  operation  of  hoeing  comprehends  two  distinct  func- 
tions, viz.  that  of  hilling,  and  that  of  w  eedin,^ ;  and  there  are 
nioi-eover  two  stages  of  hilling.  The  first  hilling  commences, 
as  heretofore  described,  in  the  preparation  of  the  field  previous  to 
planting  the  crop,  and  it  is  performed,  as  before  explained,  by 
means  of  the  peculiar  implement  called  a  hilling  hoe ;  the  sec- 
otid  hilling  is  performed  after  the  crop  is  planted,  with  a  view 
to  succour  and  support  the  plant  as  it  may  happen  to  want 
strengthening,  by  giving  a  firm  and  permanent  foundation  to  its 
root ;  and  it  may  be  eflfected  according  to  the  demand  of  the 
respective  plants  by  a  dexterity  in  changing  the  stroke  witli 
the  weeding  hoe,  without  any  necessity  to  recur  to  the  more 
appropriate  utensil. 

"  The  more  direct  use  of  the  weeding  hoe  commences  vnth 
the  first  growth  of  the  tobacco  after  transplantation,  and  never 
ceases  until  the  plant  is  nearly  ripe,  and  ready  to  be  laid  hj,  as 
they  term  the  last  weeding  with  the  hoe ;  for  he  wlio  would 
have  a  good  crop  of  tobacco,  or  of  maize,  must  not  be  sparing 
of  his  labour,  but  must  keep  the  ground  constantly  stirring  dur- 
ing the  whole  growth  of  the  crop.  And  it  is  a  rare  instance 
to  see  the  plough  introduced  as  an  assistant,  unless  it  be  the 
flook  yloudi,  for  the  puipose  of  introducing  a  sowing  of  wheat 
for  the  following  year,  even  while  the  present  crop  is  growing  ; 
and  this  is  frequently  practised  in  fields  of  maize,  and  some- 
times in  fields  of  tobacco,  which  may  be  ranked  amongst  the 
best  fallow  crops,  as  it  leaves  the  ground  perfectly  clean  and 
naked,  permitting  neither  grass,  weed,  nor  vegetable,  to  remain 
standing  in  the  space  which  it  has  occnpied. 
S5 


19rfc  NOTES. 

Of  Topping  the  PlanU 
"This  operation,  simply,  is  that  of  pinching  oflf  with  the 
thumb  nail^  the  leading  stem  or  sprout  of  the  plant,  which 
would,  if  left  aloiie,  run  up  to  flower  and  seed  ;  but  which,  from 
the  more  substantial  formation  of  the  leaf  by  the  help  of  the  nu- 
tritive juices,  which  are  thereby  afforded  to  the  lower  parts  of 
the  plant,  and  thus  absorbed  through  the  ducts  and  fibres  of  the 
leaf,  is  rendered  more  weighty,  thick,  and  fit  for  market.  The 
qualified  sense  of  this  term  is  applicable  to  certain  legal  restric- 
tions founded  upon  long  experience,  and  calculated  to  compel  an 
amendment  in  the  culture  of  this  staple  of  the  Virginia  trade,  so 
that  it  shall  at  all  times  excel  in  foreign  markets,  and  thus  just- 
ly merit  a  superior  reputation.  I  do  not  exactly  recollect  the 
present  limitation  by  law,  which  has  changed,  I  believe,  with 
the  progress  of  experience;  but  the  custom  is  to  top  the  plant 
to  nine,  seven,  or  five  leaves,  as  the  quality  and  soil  may  seem 
most  likely  to  bear. 

Of  the  Sucker,  mid  Suckering. 

"  The  sucker  is  a  superfluous  sprout  which  is  wont  to  make 
its  appearance  and  shoot  forth  from  the  stem  or  stalk,  near  to 
the  junction  of  the  leaves  with  the  stem,  and  about  the  root  of 
the  plant ;  and  if  these  suckers  are  permitted  to  grow,  they  in- 
jure the  marketable  quality  of  the  tobacco  by  compelling  a  division 
of  its  nutriment  during  the  act  of  maturation.  The  planter  is 
therefore  careful  to  destroy  these  intruders  with  the  thumb  nail, 
as  in  the  act  of  topping,  and  this  process  is  termed  snckering, 

<•  This  superfluity  of  vegetation,  like  that  of  the  top,  has 
hccn  often  the  subject  of  legislative  care  j  and  the  policy  of  sup- 
porting the  good  name  of  the  Virginia  produce  has  dictated  the 

*  "Many  of  the  Virginians  let  the  thumb  nail  grow  long,  and 
harden  it  in  the  candle,  for  this  purpose  :  not  for  the  use  of  gouging 
out  people's  eyes,  as  some  have  thought  fit  to  insinuate." 


NOTES.  195 

wisdom  of  penal  laws  to  maintain  her  good  faith  against  imposi- 
tion upon  strangers  who  trade  with  her.  It  has  been  customary 
in  former  ages  to  rear  an  inferior  plant  from  the  sucker  whicli 
projects  from  the  root  after  the  cutting  of  an  early  plant ;  and 
thus  a  second  crop  has  been  often  obtained  from  the  same  field 
by  one  and  the  same  course  of  culture ;  and  although  this  scion 
is  of  a  sufficient  quality  for  smoking,  and  might  become  preferred 
in  the  weaker  kinds  of  snuff,  it  has  been  (I  think  very  properly) 
thought  eligible  to  prefer  a  prohibitory  law,  to  a  risk  of  imposi- 
tion by  means  of  similitude. 

"  The  practice  of  cultivating  suckers  is  on  these  accounts 
not  only  discountenanced  as  fraudulent,  but  the  constables  are 
strictly  enjoined  ex  officio  to  make  diligent  search,  and  to  em- 
ploy the  posse  comitatus  in  destroying  such  crops  j  a  law 
indeed  for  which,  to  the  credit  of  the  Virginians,  there  is  seldom 
occasion  5  yet  some  few  instances  have  occurred,  within  my  day, 
where  the  constables  have  very  honourably  carried  it  into  exe- 
cution in  a  manner  truly  exemplary,  and  productive  of  public 
good. 

Of  the  fForm. 

*«  There  are  several  species  of  the  worm,  or  rather  grub  ge- 
nus, which  prove  injurious  to  the  culture  of  tobacco ;  some  of 
these  attack  the  root,  and  some  the  leaf  of  the  plants  but  that 
which  is  most  destructive,  and  consequently  creates  the  most 
employment,  is  the  horn  worm,  or  large  green  tobacco  worm. 
This  appears  to  me  to  be  the  same  species  with  that  which 
Catesby  has  described  in  the  second  volume  of  his  Natural  His- 
tory of  Carolina,  p.  94,  under  the  title  eruca  maxima  cornuta,  or 
the  great  horned  caterpillar. 

"  *This  caterpillar,'  says  he,  *is  about  four  inches  long,  be- 
sides the  head  and  tail ;  it  consists  of  ten  joints,  or  rings,  of  a 
yellow  colour ;   on  the  head,  which  is  black,  grow  four  pair  of 


196  NOTES. 

liorns,  smooth  and  of  a  reddish  brown  towards  the  bottom,  jagged 
or  bearded,  and  black  towards  the  top;  on  each  of  the  rings  arise 
short,  jagged,  black  horns,  one  standing  on  the  back,  and  two  on; 
each  side;  below  which  is  a  trachcsa  on  each  side  j  likewise  the 
horn  of  the  back  of  the  last  ring  is  longest:  the  flap  of  the  tail 
is  of  a  bright  bay  colour.  It  hath  eight  feet,  and  six  papillcE.' 
«<  There  are,  besides  this  kind,  others  without  horns  ;  all  of 
them  of  a  green  colour,  so  far  as  I  recollect.  And  this,  in 
Catesby's  description,  differs  in  respect  to  colour  ;  this  tobacco 
worm  or  horn  worm,  as  the  planters  call  it  more  particularly, 
being  of  a  pale  delicate  gveen  ;  an  effect  I  apprehend  which  pro- 
ceeds from  the  ( olour  of  its  food  when  it  feeds  upon  growing  to- 
bacco plants.  The  act  of  destroying  these  worms  is  termed 
worming  the  tobacco,  which  is  a  very  nauseous  occupation,  and 
takes  up  much  labour.  It  is  performed  by  picking  every  thing 
of  this  kind  off  the  respective  leaves  with  the  hand,  and  destroy- 
ing it  with  the  foot. 

Of  the  Term  "Firing.-* 
<*  During  very  rainy  seasons,  and  in  some  kinds  of  unfa- 
vourable soil,  the  plant  is  subject  to  a  malady  called  firing. 
This  is  a  kind  of  blight  occasioned  by  the  moist  state  of  the 
atmosphere,  and  the  too  moist  condition  of  the  plant :  I  do  not 
recollect  whether  the  opposite  extreme  does  not  produce  an  ef- 
fect something  similar.  This  injury  is  much  dreaded  by  the 
planter,  as  it  spots  the  leaf  with  a  hard  brown  spot,  which  per- 
ishes, and  becomes  so  far  a  loss  upon  the  commodity.  I  appre- 
hend there  are  two  stages  when  the  plant  is,  in  a  certain  degree, 
subject  to  this  evil  effect :  the  first  is  whilst  growing  in  the  field, 
the  latter  when  hanging  in  the  tobacco  house.  I  know  of  no  other 
remedy  than  constant  working  the  ground  while  the  seed  is  grow- 
ing, and  careful  drying  by  the  use  of  fire  in  the  tobacco  house. 


NOTES.  197 

Of  the  Ripening  of  the  Crop. 

"  Much  practice  is  requisite  to  form  a  judicious  discernment 
concerning  the  state  and  progress  of  the  ripening  leaf;  yet  cai^e 
mqst  be  used  to  cut  up  the  plant  as  soon  as  it  is  sufficiently  ripe 
to  promise  a  good  curable  condition,  lest  the  approach  of  frost 
should  tread  upon  the  heels  of  the  crop-master  ;  for  in  this  case, 
tobacco  will  be  among  the  first  plants  that  feel  its  influence,  and 
the  loss  to  be  apprehended  in  this  instance,  is  not  a  mere  partial 
damage  by  nippling,  but  a  total  consumption  by  the  destruc- 
tion of  every  plant. 

«*  I  find  it  difficult  to  give  to  strangers  a  full  idea  of  the 
ripening  of  tlieleaf:  it  is  a  point  on  which  I  would  not  trust 
my  own  experience  without  consulting  some  able  crop-master  in 
the  neighbourhood  ;  and  I  believe  this  is  not  an  uncustomary 
precaution  among  those  who  plant  it.  So  far  as  I  am  able  to 
convey  an  idea,  wliich  I  find  it  easier  to  understand  than  to  ex- 
press, I  should  judge  of  the  ripening  of  the  leaf  by  its  thickening 
sufficiently ;  by  the  change  of  its  colour  to  a  more  yellowish 
green ;  by  a  certain  mellow  appearance,  and  protusion  of  the  web 
of  the  leaf,  which  I  suppose  to  be  occasioned  by  a  contraction  of 
the  fibres  ',  and  by  such  other  appearances  as  I  might  conceive 
to  indicate  an  ultimate  suspension  of  the  vegetative  functions. 

Of  Cutting  and  Gathenng  the  Crop. 
«  When  the  crop  is  adjudged  sufficiently  ripe  to  proceed  to 
cutting,  this  operation  is  assigned  to  the  best  and  most  judicious 
hands  who  are  employed  in  the  culture;  and  these  being  pro- 
vided each  with  a  strong  sharp  knife,  proceed  along  the  respec- 
tive rows  of  the  field  to  select  such  plants  as  appear  to  be  ripe, 
leaving  others  to  ripen  ,•  those  which  are  cut  are  sliced  off  near 
to  the  ground,  and  such  plants  as  have  thick  stalks  or  stems  are 
sliced  down  the  middle  of  the  stem  in  order  to  admit  a  more  free 
and  equal  circulation  of  air  through  the  parts  during  the  proces;^ 


198  '  NOTES. 

of  curing,  and  to  free  the  plant,  as  far  as  possible,  from  such 
partial  retention  of  moisture  as  might  have  a  tendency  to  fer- 
ment, and  damage  the  staple.  The  plants  are  then  laid  down 
upon  the  hill  where  they  grew,  with  the  points  of  the  leaves  pro- 
jecting all  the  same  way,  as  nearly  as  possible,  so  that  when  the 
sun  has  had  sufficient  effect  to  render  them  pliable,  they  may 
more  easily  and  uniformly  be  gathered  into  turns  by  the  gather- 
ers who  follow  the  cutting. 

Of  Gathering  the  Crop  in. 

«<  For  the  better  comprehending  the  method  of  gathering  the 
crop,  it  is  necessary  to  understand  the  preparation  which  must 
be  previously  made  for  facilitating  this  part  of  the  process. 

"  In  preparing  for  gathering  the  crop  of  tobacco  it  is  cus- 
tomary to  erect  a  kind  of  scaffold  in  various  places  of  the  tobacco 
ground  which  may  happen  to  offer  a  convenient  situation.  This 
is  done  by  lodging  one  end  of  several  strong  poles  upon  any  log 
or  fence  which  may  be  convenient,  and  resting  the  other  end  of 
such  poles  upon  a  transverse  pole  supported  by  forks,  at  about 
five  feet  from  the  ground ;  or  by  erecting  the  whole  scaffold 
upon  forks  if  circumstances  require  it. 

**In  forming  this  part  of  the  scaffold  in  the  manner  of  joists, 
the  poles  are  placed  about  four  feet  asunder  from  centre  to  cen- 
tre, so  that  when  the  sticks  which  sustain  the  tobacco  plants  are 
prepared  they  may  fill  the  space  advantageously  by  leaving  but 
little  spare  room  upon  tlie  scaffold. 

"  Timber  is  then  split  in  the  manner  of  laths,  into  pieces  of 
four  feet  in  length,  and  about  an  inch  and  a  half  diameter. 
These  are  termed  the  tobacco  slicks  ;  and  their  use  is  to  hang 
the  tobacco  upon,  both  by  lodging  the  ends  of  this  stick  upon 
the  poles  of  the  scaffold  which  have  been  previously  prepared  in 
the  field,  in  order  to  render  it  sufficiently  pliable  and  in  condi- 
tion to  carry  into  the  tobacco-house,  to  which  it  is  now  convey- 


NOTES.  199 

ed  by  such  means  as  the  planter  has  in  his  power ;  and  by  sus- 
pending it  in  the  same  way  in  the  house,  so  that  the  air  may 
pass  through  it  in  the  process  of  curing.  Instead  of  this  partic- 
ular method,  those  who  prefer  to  do  so,  lay  it  a  short  while  in 
bulk  upon  poles,  logs,  &c.  in  the  field,  before  they  convey  it  un- 
der cover." 


CONTENTS  OF  THE  SECOND  VOLUME. 


Pyrola  iimbellnlaf 

"Winter  green, 

15 

Ganltheria  procunibenSf 

Partridge  berrv. 

27 

FodophyUuin  peltatumf 

May  apple. 

34 

Ictodesfceiidns, 

Skunk  cabbage. 

41 

Stafice  Carolinianaf 

Marsh  rosemary. 

51 

Jisdcpias  tuberosa. 

Butterfly  weed. 

59 

Magnolia  glauca, 

Small  magnolia, 

67 

Comas  fl-Qrida, 

Dogwood, 

73 

J^anax  qninquefuliunif 

Ginseng, 

82 

Folygala  senega, 

Seneca  snake  root, 

97 

Linodendron  tidipiferaf 

Tulip  tree. 

107 

Juglans  cinerea, 

Biittcrnnt, 

115 

Veratrum  -oiride, 

American  Hellebore, 

121 

Gentiaiia  Cateslcei, 

Blue  gentian, 

137 

Laurus  sassafras. 

Sassafras, 

142 

Jpocynnm  aiulroscemifol'mm, 

Dogsbane, 

148 

Birca  palustris, 

Leather  wood. 

154 

Jtubus  villosiis. 

Tall  blackberry, 

160 

Cassia  Marilandica. 

American  senna, 

166 

^icoiia'iia  tahacnm. 

Tobacco, 

171 

J\''otes, 

188 

AMERICAK 

MEDICAL  BOTANY, 


BEING  A  COLLECTION 


NATIVE  MEDICIlSrAL  PLAINTS 


UNITED  STATES, 


COSTAINIKG  THEIR 

BOTANICAL  HISTOKY  AND  CHEMICAL  ANALYSIS, 

AND  PROPERTIES  AND  USES 
MEDICINE,  DIET,  AND  THE  ARTS, 

"WITH 

COLOURED  ENGRAVINGS. 


BY^  JACOB  BIGELOW,  M.  D. 

llUIVrFORD  PKOFESSOH,  AXD  PROFESSOR  OF  MATERIA  MEBICA  IS 
HARTAHD  TTIflVEUSITY. 


yoL.  III. 


BOSTON: 

PUBLISHED  BY  CUMMINGS  AND  HILLIARD,  AT  THE  BOSTO>f 
EOOKSTOB.E,  NO.   1   COE.NHILL. 

TT5rir.PRESS....HII.XIAED  AJTD  MZTCALF* 

1820. 


PREFACE  TO  THE  THIRD  VOLUME. 


A  HE  subjects  of  the  present  work,  for  reasons 
which  prevail  in  many  publications  of  the  kind, 
have  been  inserted  without  reference  to  any  par- 
ticular arrangement  or  system.  Those  plants 
received  the  earliest  place,  the  observations  re- 
specting which  were  earliest  matured,  and  the 
drawings  of  which  were  first  completed.  Al- 
though this  plan  has  been  objected  to  in  some 
foreign  criticisms,  it  is  the  one  pursued  in  several 
of  the  most  extensive  and  useful  botanical  works 
of  the  day,  which  are  accompanied  with  plates  ; 
and  in  periodical  publications,  or  those  wbich 
appear  in  successive  numbers,  it  has  more  than 
one  decided  advantage.  It  gives  time  for  all  the 
figures  to  be  completed  at  leisure,  from  perfect 
specimens,  in  proper  and  convenient  seasons  ;  at 
the  same  time  that  it  does  not  necessitate  prema- 
ture and  imperfect  descriptions  of  their  subjects, 
which  must  take  place  were  an  arrangement  adopt- 


VI  PREFACE. 

ed,  which  might  require  the  first  insertion  for 
plants  not  yet  obtained  or  imperfectly  examined, 
A  systematic  method  may  be  adhered  to  in  a  work 
which  is  furnished  for  the  press  at  once,  but  must 
occasion  delay  and  imperfection  in  a  periodical  one. 
As  the  American  Medical  Botany  is  terminat- 
ed by  the  completion  of  its  third  volume,  the 
opportunity  is  now  afforded  for  taking  a  methodi- 
cal view  of  its  contents.  Considered  in  a  medici- 
nal point  of  view,  the  subjects  will  be  best  classed 
as  in  systems  of  Materia  Medica,  by  a  reference 
to  their  leading  properties  or  most  striking  modes 
of  operating  on  the  human  system.  In  this 
light  they  may  be  arranged  as  follows. 

JVarcotics.  Tonics. 

Datura  Stramonium,  Menjanthes  trifoliata.. 

Conium  maculatum.  Hamulus  Lupulus, 

Cicuta  maculata,  Eupatorium  perfoliatum^ 

Hjoscjamus  iiiger,  Coptis  trifolia, 

Nicotiana  tabacum,  Cornus  fiorida, 

Solanum  dulcamara,  Gentiana  Catesbsei, 

Kalmia  latifolia  r  Aletris  farinosa, 

Pol  jgala  rubella, 

Astringents.  Sabbatia  angularis. 

Geranium  maculatum,  Piiuos  verticillatus, 

Statice  Caroliniana,  Liriodendron  tulipifera. 

Arbutus  Uva  ursi.  Magnolia  glauca. 
Rubus  villosus,  AcHd  stimulants. 

Rhododendron  maximum,  Arum  triphyllum, 

Nympheea  odorata,  Ictodes  fcetidus, 

IMvrica  cerifera.  Ranunculus  bulbosus. 


PREFACE. 


Vll 


Emetics. 
Lobelia  inflata, 
Phytolacca  decandra, 
Gillenia  trifollata, 
Veratrum  viride, 
Sanguinaria  Canadensis, 
Iris  versicolor, 
Apocynum  androssemifolium, 
Dirca  palustris. 
Euphorbia  ipecacuanha, 
Euphorbia  corollata. 
Erythronium  Americanuni. 


Solidago  odora, 
Gaultheria  procumbens, 
Laurus  sassafras, 
Illicium  Floridanum. 

Diuretics. 
Juniperus  communis, 
Pyrola  Umbellata. 

Expectorants. 
Polygala  senega, 
Asclepias  tuberosa. 


Cathartics. 
Podophyllum  peltatum, 
Juglans  cinerea, 
Triosteum  perfoliatum, 
Cassia  marilandica. 


Demulcents. 
Panax  quinqefolium- 

Anthelmintics. 
Spigelia  marilandica. 


Diaphoretics. 
Aristolochia  serpentaria, 
Asarum  Canadense, 
Xanthoxylum  fraxineum. 


External  stimulants. 
Juniperus  Yirginiana, 
Rhus  Vernix, 
Rhus  radicans. 


We  avail  ourselves  of  classification  in  the 
Materia  Medica  founded  on  the  kind  of  operation 
which  medicines  exert  on  the  human  hody,  be- 
cause there  are  seemingly  no  better  characteris- 
tics by  which  to  arrange  them.  But  even  this 
method  is  defective,  because  few  medicines  are 
simple  in  their  operation,  and  of  course  most 
of  them  have  claims  to  stand  in  more  tlian  one 
class.      As  examples,   Tobacco,   Henbane,  Fox- 


Vill  PREFACE. 

glove,  and  Opium  are  all  of  them  properly  placed 
by  authors  under  the  head  of  Narcotics.  But  of 
these,  Tobacco  is  an  emetic,  Henbane  a  cathartic, 
Foxglove  a  diuretic,  and  Opium,  while  it  checks 
all  other  excretions,  is  itself  sudorific.  Mercury, 
under  its  different  forms  and  modes  of  adminis- 
tration, is  capable  of  fulfilling  hrJi'  a  dozen  differ- 
ent intentions.  The  classifier  of  medicines  then 
can  do  no  more  than  to  arrange  them  by  their 
most  obvious  and  well  known  properties,  whatever 
these  may  be,  leaving  it  understood  that  the 
name  of  a  class  is  by  no  means  fully  descriptive 
of  the  character  of  its  contents,* 

In  forming  a  selection  of  sixty  plants  to  be 
represented  in  this  work,  it  has  been  endeavoured 
to  choose  those  which  are  among  the  most 
interesting  to  botanists,  at  the  same  time  that 
they  possess  claims  upon  the  attention  of  medi- 
cal men.  It  is  by  no  means  to  be  asserted  that 
all  these  possess  so  decided  an  efficacy  as  to  enti- 
tle them  to  the  rank  of  standard  medicines,  or  to 
make  it  advisable  that  pharmacopceias  should  be 
swelled  by  their  introduction.  A  part  of  them 
no  doubt  are  eminently  entitled  to  this  distinction. 
Others   are  efficacious  only   in  a  second  degree, 

*  For  a  botanical  arrangement  of  the  plants,  see  the  systematic 
index  at  the  end  of  the  volume. 


PREFACE.  IX 


but  are  still  in  use,  and  often  advantageously  so, 
in  the  hands  of  country  practitioners.  Tisere 
jare  some  of  yet  inferior  efficacy,  which,  having 
formerly  enjoyed  a, certain  degree  of  medicinul 
notoriety,  are  inserted  here  with  a  view  of  defin- 
ing their  true  character. 

The  progress  of  botanical  students  is  mucli 
facilitated  by  the  possession  of  correct  drawings 
and  dissections  of  a  variety  of  dissimilar  plants. 
In  this  country  botanical  figures,  especially  of 
American  plants,  are  scarce,  and  accessible  to  but 
a  small  number  of  those  who  pursue  this  study. 
It  is  hoped  that  the  present  work  may,  in  a  cer- 
tain degree,  supply  the  deficiency,  at  least  until 
the  extension  of  natural  science  among  us,  and 
the  increased  number  of  botanical  students,  shall 
call  forth  and  support  works  of  greater  magnitude. 

A  part  of  the  plants  contained  in  this  work 
have  never  been  figured  in  any  botanical  work. 
Others  have  been  represented  a  great  number  of 
times  ;  yet  their  importance,  in  a  medical  point  of 
view,  required  their  admission ;  and  the  figure 
being  always  made  from  an  American  specimen, 
it  may,  on  this  account,  be  not  destitute  of  in- 
terest. 

Having   arrived    at    the    termination    of   the 
American   Medical  Botany,   the   author  feels  it 

9, 


X  PREFACE. 

incumbent  on  him  to  state,  that  he  has  at  no  time, 
had  cause  to  regret  the  undertaking  of  a  work, 
which  has  furnished  a  most  interesting  employ- 
ment for  his  leisure  hours  ;  and  which  has  been 
honored  with  a  patronage,  greatly  exceeding  his 
anticipations. 


AMERICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY, 


GILLENIA  TRIFOLIATA. 

Common  Gillenia, 

PLATE  XLI. 

iN  OTWITHSTANDING  tlie  principle  avowed  bj 
Linnseus,  that  genera  are  formed  by  nature  ;  the 
determination  of  generic  consanguinity  in  species 
occasions  in  many  instances  one  of  the  greatest 
perplexities  of  the  botanist.     What  difference  in 
structure   and  cisternal  form  either  of  flower  or 
fruit,  is  sufficient  to  separate  families  of  plants 
from  each  other ;  is  a  point  often  difficult  to  decide , 
and  is  perhaps  as  frequently  set  at  rest  by  conve- 
nience and  by  arbitrary  decision,  as  it  is  by  any 
unexceptionable  boundaries  designated  in  nature. 
When  the  species  of  a  vegetable  order  are  exceed- 
ingly numerous,  and  a  close  similarity  pervades 
the  whole  ;    genera  are  multiplied  by  botanists, 
that  the  discrimination  of  species  may  be  iVtciiitat- 


13  GILL.ENIA  TRIFOLIATA, 

ed.  Oil  the  otlier  hand,  where  a  group  of  species 
is  not  unwieldy  from  its  size,  or  deficient  in  dis- 
tinctive marks,  the  genera  are  made  as  compre- 
hensive, as  natural  afiinity  will  permit.  The  di- 
versity of  structure,  which  exists  in  the  flowers  of 
Gentiana^  or  the  fruit  of  Bimias,  would  he  deemed 
ample  f  jundation  for  constructing  half  a  dozen  ge- 
nera among  the  umhelliferous,  leguminous,  or 
gramineous  orders.  But  as  the  species  of  the 
genera  above  have  a  strong  agreement  in  one  part 
of  their  fructification,  as  well  as  in  general  habit, 
and  as  no  great  obscurity  or  inconvenience  results 
from  keeping  them  together,  it  has  not  been 
thought  worth  while  to  multiply  nomenclature  by 
arranging  them  under  separate  titles. 

The  separation  of  Gillenia  from  Spiraea  is  one 
of  those  cases,  upon  which  the  botanist  may  hesi- 
tate long,  without  finding  reasons  strong  enough 
to  influence  his  decision.  The  natural  order  to 
which  they  belong  is  remarkable  for  having  its 
genera  well  defined,  so  that  there  is  no  necessity 
for  the  separation,  arising  from  confusion  or  indis- 
tinctness. The  fruit  of  Gillenia  is  exactly  the 
fruit  of  Spiraea,  and  the  habit  of  the  herb  in  one  is 
not  very  foreign  from  that  of  the  other.  There  is 
nevertheless  something  in  the  irregular  corolla, 
taken  in  conjunction  witli  the  campanulate  calyx, 


COMMON  GILLENIA.  13 

which  I  think  would  prevent  any  one,  at  first  sight, 
from  considering  the  plant  a  Spirsea ;  and  which 
may  afford  sufficient  ground  for  following  the 
example  of  Moench  in  considering  it  a  distinct 
genus. 

The  Crillenia  trifoliata  grows  in  woods,  in  a 
light  soil,  from  Canada  to  Florida.  In  the  mari- 
time states  I  have  not  met  with  it  north  of  the 
Hudson.     Its  flowering  time  is  in  June  and  July. 

The  generic  character,  which  distinguishes 
this  plant  frOm  Spirsea,  is  as  follows  :  Calyac  cam- 
paniilcde,  fixJe  toothed ;  corolla  irregular^  petals 
lanceolate^  contracted  near  the  claws  ;  capsules 
five,  The  species  trifoliata  has  ternate,  hmceolate, 
serrate  leaves,  and  stipules  tvhich  are  minute,  linea- 
lanceolate  and  nearly  entire. 

Class  Icosandria,  order  Pentagynia.  Natural 
orders  Seniicosce,  Lin.     Mosacew,  Juss. 

This  plant  has  commonly  a  number  of  stems 
from  the  same  root,  which  are  a  foot  or  two  in 
height,  erect,  slender,  flexuous,  smooth,  commonly 
of  a  reddish  tinge,  and  considerably  branched. 
The  leaves  are  alternate,  trifoliate,  with  very  short 
petioles,  furnished  with  small  lanceolate,  slightly 
toothed  stipules  at  the  base.  Leafets  ovate,  lan- 
ceolate, acuminate,  sharply  toothed,  the  upper 
ones  often  single.     The  flowers  are  few  in  nurn- 


14  GILLENIA  TRIFOLIATA. 

ber,  scattered,  terminal,  nodding,  formin^^  a  sort 
of  panicle,  with  long  peduncles,  occasionally  fur* 
nished  with  minute  lanceolate  bractes.  Calyx 
subcampanulate,  or  tubular,  with  the  lower  half 
narrowest,  the  border  divided  into  five  reflexed 
acute  teeth.  Petals  five,  the  two  upper  ones 
separated  from  the  three  lower,  white,  with  a  red- 
dish tinge  on  the  edge  of  the  outside,  lanceolate, 
unguiculate,  contracted,  and  approximated  at  base. 
Stamens  about  twenty  in  a  double  series  within 
the  calyx.  Germ  round,  styles  approximated. 
Capsules  five,  not  one^  as  some  authors  have  stated, 
diverging,  oblong,  acuminate,  gibbous  without, 
sharp  edged  witbin,  two  valved,  one  celled,  one  or 
two  seeded  ;  seeds  oblong,  corresponding  in  shape 
to  the  capsule. 

The  root  of  this  plant  is  much  branched  and 
knotty.  It  consists  of  a  woody  portion,  invested 
with  a  thick  bark,  which  when  dry  is  brittle,  and 
Tery  bitter  to  the  taste.  The  predominant,  solu- 
ble ingredients  in  tiiis  root  appear  to  be  a  bitter 
extractive  matter,  and  resin.  When  boiled  in 
water,  it  imparts  to  it  a  beautiful,  deep  red,  wine 
colour,  and  an  intensely  bitter  taste.  This  decoc- 
tion undergoes  no  cliange  from  alcohol  or  gela- 
tine, though  it  gives  a  precipitate  with  muriate  of 
tin.    Water  distilled  from  the  I'oot  has  its  peculiar 


COMMON  GILLENIA.  15 

flavour,  with  little  of  the  bitterness.  A  large 
portion  of  resin  is  precipitated  on  the  addition  of 
water  to  an  alcoholic  tincture  of  the  root. 

Under  the  name  of  Spirsea  trifoliata,  this  plant 
is  well  known  to  students  of  the  American  Materia 
Medica,  as  an  emetic.  To  the  remarks  which 
have  been  made  by  various  writers,  I  can  add  my 
own  testimony  of  its  possessing  properties  in  a 
certain  degree  analogous  to  those  of  ipecacuanha. 
It  requires,  however,  a  larger  dose,  and  I  have  not 
been  satisfied  that  it  is  at  all  certain  in  its  opera- 
tion. At  times  I  have  known  fifteen  grains  to 
produce  a  full  operation ;  at  others  thirty  grains 
have  been  given  to  a  person  already  predisposed 
to  vomit,  without  producing  the  least  sensible 
effect. 

The  best  printed  account  which  I  liave  found 
respecting  its  mode  of  operation  is  contained 
in  an  Inaugural  Dissertation,  published  at  Phila- 
delphia in  1810,  by  Dr.  De  la  Motta,  then  of 
Charleston,  S.  C  This  gentleman,  in  addition  to 
other  trials,  took  tlie  root  himself  twice  in  sufficient 
quantity  to  produce  vomiting.  ''  In  order,"  he 
says,  "  to  ascertain  this  particular  power  of  the 
Spirsea,  I,  early  in  the  morning,  fasting,  prescribed 
for  myself  twenty -five  grains  of  the  powdered  root 
of  this  plant.     1  divided   this  quantity  into   four 


46  OILLENIATRIFOLIATA. 

equal  parts,  one    of  which   I   took  every  fifteen 
minutes,   conceiving   this   a   sufficient  length  of 
time  to  allow  for  the  action  of  each  dose   in   my 
stomacli.       The   first    dose   taken   produced   no 
manifest  effect.      At   the   expiration   of    fifteen 
minutes  I  took  a  second  dose  ; — a  degree  of  un- 
easiness was  experienced,  attended    with    some 
nausea ; — at  the   end  of  fifteen  minutes  more  I 
swallowed   a  third  dose, — nausea  increased,  until 
the  convulsive  action  of  my  stomach  took  place. 
The  fourth  dose   was   now  taken  ;   considerable 
effi)rts  were  made  to  vomit,  and   finally  the  con- 
tents of  my  stomach  were  thrown  up,  together 
with  a  profuse  quantity  of  bile.     The  determina- 
tion of  blood  to  my  head,  the  frequency  of  my 
pulse,  and  heat  of  my  system    were    much  aug- 
mented.    I  now  drank  half  a  pint  of  warm  water  ; 
the  action  of  my  stomach  subsided,  and  the  nau- 
sea gradually  wore  off.    A  portion  of  the  medicine, 
I  was    induced   to  believe,  had   insinuated  itself 
into  the   intestines,    as  two   copious   evacuations 
were  produced  within  the   space  of  three  hours. 
During  the   day  I  felt  much  debilitated,  but  im- 
puted this  to  the  general  effect  of  emetics. 

"  I  was  thus  satisfied  with  respect  to  its  efficacy 
as  an  emetic  upon  an  empty  stomach.  But,  being 
still  desirous  of  becoming  better  acquainted  with 


COMMON  GILLENIA.  17 

its  particular  operation  after  eating  an  usual  meal, 
I  made  a  second  experiment,  one  month  after  the 
first.  In  the  morning,  one  hour  after  I  had  eaten 
a  hearty  breakfast,  I  took  twenty  grains  of  the 
medicine,  in  divided  doses,  as  in  the  former  ex- 
periment. At  the  expiration  of  a  very  few  min- 
utes nausea  commenced,  which  continuing  to 
increase,  with  very  few  efforts  I  discharged  the 
contents  of  my  stomach.  The  effects  of  the  second 
trial  answered  exactly  my  expectations." 

Some  authors  have  attributed  a  tonic  power  to 
the  Gillenia,  when  administered  in  s*mall  doses. 
That  it  possesses  such  a  power  is  rendered  prob- 
ble  by  its  bitter  taste,  and  by  the  fact,  that  small 
doses  of  ipecacuanha  exert  a  beneficial  stimulus 
on  the  stomach  in  certain  cases  of  debility  in 
that  organ. 


IS  GILLENIA  TRIPOLI  AT  A. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Gillenia  trifoliata,  Mcench,  Metli.  suppl.  p.  286. — Nuttall, 
Genera,  i.  307. — Spirgea  trifoliata,  Lin. — Willd.  Sp.  pi.  ii.  1063.— 
Curtis,  Bot.  Mag.  t.  489. — Miller,  Icones,  256. — Michaux,  Flor, 
i.  294.— PuRSH,  i.  243. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScHOEPF,  80. — B.  S.  Barton,  Coll.  26. — De  la  Motta,  Inaugural 
Bissertation. 


,  PLATE  XLL 

Fig.  1.  Gillenia  trifoliata. 

Fig.  2.  Calyx. 

Fig.  3.  *i  petal. 

Fig.  4.  Flower  opened,  shelving  the  situation  of  the  stamens. 

Fig.  5.  Germ  and  styles. 

Fig.  6.  Styles  separated. 


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RHUS  EADICANS. 


Poison  Ivy. 

PLdTE  XLIL 

JuiKE  the  Rhus  vernix,  describetl  in  our  first 
volume,  this  plant  is  regarded  with  aversion,  and 
too  frequently  furnishes  cause  to  be  remembered 
by  persons  of  susceptible  constitution,  who  un- 
warily become  exposed  to  its  poisonous  influence. 
The  general  recognition  of  its  deleterious  charac- 
ter is  evinced  in  the  application  of  the  names 
Foison  vine,  Poison  creeper,  and  Poison  Ivy, 
which  are  given  to  it  in  all  parts  of  the  United 
States. 

The  Rhus  radicans  is  a  pretty  common 
inhabitant  of  the  borders  of  fields  and  of  woods 
in  most  soils  which  are  not  very  wet.  Its  mode 
of  growtli  is  much  like  that  of  the  common 
creeper,  the  Ampelopsis  quinquefolia  of  Michaux ; 
and  like  that  vine,  and  the  European  Ivy,  it 
would  doubtless  be  cultivated  for  ornament,  were 


30  RHUS  RADICATES. 

it  harmless  as  it  is  handsome.  As  its  name 
implies,  this  vine  ascends  upon  tall  objects  in  its 
neighbourhood  by  means  of  strong  lateral  rooting 
fibres,  which  project  in  great  numbers  from  its 
sides,  and  attach  themselves  to  the  bark  of  trees 
and  the  surface  of  stones.  The  extreme  branches 
of  these  fibres  appear  very  strong  in  proportion 
to  their  fineness,  and  insinuate  themselves  into 
the  minutest  pores  and  crevices.  The  adhesion 
of  the  vine  to  the  hark  of  trees  is  frequently  so 
strong,  that  it  cannot  be  torn  off  without  breaking, 
and  I  have  repeatedly  seen  large  stems  of  the 
Hhus  completely  buried  in  the  trunks  of  old 
trees,  the  bark  having  grown  over  and  enveloped 
them.  The  fibres  are  analogous  in  their  struc- 
ture to  fine  roots,  and  consist  of  a  regular  wood 
and  bark.  They  are  sometimes  thrown  out  in 
such  numbers  on  all  sides,  as  to  give  the  vine  a 
shaggy  appearance  and  conceal  its  bark.  In 
general,  however,  they  tend  to  tlie  shady  side, 
and  are  attracted  toward  opaque  objects,  furnish- 
ing an  exemplification  of  Mr.  Knight's  beautiful 
explanation  of  motion  in  tendrils,  which,  by  their 
propensity  to  avoid  the  light  and  approach  the 
shade,  are  directed  into  contact  with  bodies 
capable  of  yielding  them  support. 


POISON  IVY.  33 

frequently  observed  individual  shoots  from  the 
same  stock  having  the  characters  of  both  varieties. 
1  have  also  observed  that  young  plants  of  Ehus 
radicans  frequently  do  not  put  out  rooting  fibres 
until  they  are  several  years  old,  and  that  they 
seem,  in  this  respect,  to  be  considerably  influ- 
enced  by  the  contiguity  of  supporting  objects. 

The  wood  of  the  Poison  Ivy  is  brittle,  fine 
grained  and  white,  with  a  yellow  heart  in  the  old 
plants. 

If  a  leaf  or  stem  of  tbis  plant  be  broken  off, 
a  yellowish  milky  juice  immediately  exudes  from 
the  wounded  extremity.  After  a  short  exposure 
to  the  air,  it  becomes  of  a  deep  black  colour  and 
does  not  again  change.  This  juice,  when  applied 
to  linen,  forms  one  of  the  most  perfect  kinds  of 
indelible  ink.  It  does  not  fade  from  age, 
washing,  or  exposure  to  any  of  the  common 
chemical  agents.  I  have  repeatedly,  when  in 
the  country,  marked  my  wristband  with  spots  of 
this  juice.  The  stain  was  at  first  faint  and 
hardly  perceptible,  but  in  fifteen  minutes  it 
became  black,  and  was  never  afterwards  eradi- 
cated by  washing,  but  continued  to  grow  darker 
as  long  as  the  linen  lasted. 

Dr.  Thomas  Horsfield,  in  his  valuable  disser- 
tation on  the  American   species  of  Ehus,  made 


24i  RHUS  RAUICANS. 

various  unsuccessful  experiments  with  a  view  to 
ascertain  the  nature  of  this  coh)uring  principle, 
and  the  means  of  fixing  it  on  stuffs.  He  found 
that  the  juice,  expressed  from  the  pounded  leaves, 
did  not  produce  the  black  colour,  and  that  strong 
decoctions  of  the  plant,  impregnated  with  various 
chemical  mordants,  produced  nothing  more  than 
a  dull  yellow,  brownish  or  fawn  colour.  The 
reason  of  this  is,  that  the  colouring  principle 
resides  not  in  the  sap,  but  in  the  succiis  proprius 
or  peculiar  juice  of  the  plant,  that  this  juice 
exists  only  in  small  quantity,  and  is  wholly  insol- 
uble in  water,  a  circumstance  which  contributes 
to  the  permanency  of  its  colour,  at  the  same  time 
that  it  renders  some  other  medium  necessary  for 
its  solution. 

With  a  view  to  ascertain  the  proper  menstru- 
um for  this  black  substance,  I  subjected  bits  of 
cloth  stained  with  it,  to  the  action  of  various 
chemical  agents.  Water,  at  various  temperatures 
assisted  by  soap  and  alkali,  produced  no  change 
in  its  colour.  Alcohol,  both  cold  and  boiling,  was 
equally  ineffectual.  A  portion  of  the  cloth,  di- 
gested several  hours  in  cold  ether  with  occasional 
agitation,  was  hardly  altered  in  appearance. 
Sulphuric  acid  reddened  the  spots,  but  scarcely 
rendered  them  fainter.  The  fumes  of  oxymuriatie 


POISON  IVY.  25 

acid  which  bleached  vegetable  leaves  and  bits  of 
calico  in  the  same  vessel,  exerted  no  effect  on  this 
colour. 

Boiling   ether   is  the  proper  solvent  of  this 
juice.     A  piece  of  linen   spotted  with  the  Hhus       \ 
was  immersed  in  ether  and  placed  over  a  lamp. 

j 

As   soon   as  the  fluid  boiled,  the  spot   began  to       ; 
grow  fainter,  and  in   a  few  minutes   was   wholly       | 
discharged,   the    ether  acquiring  from  it  a  dark       I 
colour.     The   linen    at   the    same    time    became 
tinged  throughout   with    a   pale    greyish   colour, 
acquired  from  the  solution. 

This  nigrescent  juice,  in  common  with  that 
of  the  Rhus  vernix,  has,  perhaps,  claims  to  be 
considered  a  distinct  proximate  principle  in 
vegetable  chemistry. 

The   leaves   and  bark  are   astringent   to  the    ^^ 
taste,  which  quality  appears  to   be   occasioned  by 
gallic  acid  rather  than  tannin.     The  infusion  and 
decoction  become  black   on  the  addition  of  salts 
of  iron,  but   discover  hardly  any  sensibility  to    i 
gelatin. 

A  poisonous  quality  exists  in  the  juice  ,and 
effluvium  of  this  plant,  like  that  which  is  found 
in  the  Ehus  vernix  already  described.  It  is  said, 
that  some  other  species  of  Rhus,  such  as  Rhus 
pumilum  and  Rhus  typliinum,  possess  the  same 
4 


26  RHUS  RADICANS, 

propertj  in  a  greater  or  less  degree.  The  poison 
Ivj,  however,  appears  to  be  less  frequently  inju- 
rious than  the  poison  Dogwood,  and  many  persons 
can  come  in  contact  with  the  former  with  impu- 
nity, who  are  soon  affected  by  the  latter.  I  have 
never,  in  ray  own  person,  been  affected  by  hand- 
ling or  chewing  the  Rhus  radicans,  though  the 
E,hus  vernix  has  often  occasioned  a  slight  eruption. 
Indeed,  the  former  plant  is  so  commonly  diffused 
by  road-sides  and  near  habitations,  that  its  ill 
consequences  must  be  extremely  frequent,  were 
many  individuals  susceptible  of  its  poison. 

Those  persons  who  are  constitutionally  liable 
to  the  influence  of  this  poison,  experience  from  it 
a  train  of  symptoms  very  similar  to  those   which 
result  from  exposure  to  the  Blius  vernix.     These 
consist  in  itching,  redness  and  tumefaction  of  the 
affected  parts,  particularly  of  the  face  ;  succeeded 
by    blisters,    suppuration,    aggravated    swelling, 
heat,  pain,  and  fever.     When  the  disease  is  at  its 
height,  the  skin  becomes   covered  with  a  crust, 
aiM  the  swelling  is  so  great  as  in  many  instances 
to  close  the  eyes  and  almost  obliterate  the  features 
of  the  face.     The  symptoms  begin  in  a  few  hours 
after  the  exposure,  and  are  commonly  at  the  height 
on  the  fourth  or  fifth  day  ;   after  which,  desqua- 
mation begins  to  take  place,  and  the  distress,  in 
most  instances,  to  diminislL 


POISON  IVY.  ^7 

Sometimes  the  eruption  is  less  general,  and 
confines  itself  to  the  part  which  has  been  exposed 
to  contact  with  the  poison.  A  gentleman,  vTith 
whom  I  was  in  company,  marked  his  wristband 
with  the  fresh  juice,  to  observe  the  effect  of  the 
colour.  The  next  day  his  arm  was  covered  with 
an  eruption  from  the  wrist  to  the  shoulder,  but 
the  disease  did  not  extend  further.  It  sometimes 
happens  that  the  eruption  continues  for  a  longer 
time  than  that  which  has  been  stated,  and  that  one 
set  of  vesications  succeeds  another,  so  as  to  protract 
the  disease  beyond  the   usual  period  of  recovery. 

The  symptoms  of  this  malady,  though  often 
highly  distressing,  are  rarely  fatal.  I  have  nev- 
ertheless been  told  of  cases  in  which  death 
appeared  to  be  the  consequence  of  this   poison. 

The  disease  brought  on  by  the  different 
species  of  Rhus  appears  to  be  of  an  erysipelatous 
nature.  It  is  to  be  treated  by  the  means  which 
resist  inflammation,  such  as  rest,  low  diet,  and 
evacuations.  Purging  with  the  neutral  salts  is 
peculiarly  useful,  and  in  the  case  of  plethoric 
constitutions,  or  where  the  fever  and  arterial 
excitement  are  very  great,  blood-letting  has  been 
found  of  service. 

The  extreme  irritability  and  burning  sensa- 
tion may  be  greatly  mitigated  by  opium.     Cold 


§8  RHUS  RADICANS. 

applications,  in  the  form  of  ice  or  cold  water,  are 
strongly  recomraended  by  Dr.  Horsefield  in  his 
treatise,  and  when  persevered  in,  they  appear  to 
exert  a  remarkably  beneficial  effect.  The^cetate_ 
of  lead  is  perhaps  as  useful  as  any  external 
palliative,  and  it  should  be  used  in  solution  rather 
than  in  the  ointment,  that  it  may  be  applied  as 
cold  as  possible.  The  late  Dr.  Barton  speaks 
highly  of  a  solution  of  corrosive  sublimate  exter- 
nally applied  in  this  disease,  but  from  trials  of 
the  two  remedies  made  at  the  same  time  and 
in  the  same  patient,  I  have  found  the  lead  the 
more  beneficial  of  the  two. 

A  person  who  has  been  in  contact  with  the 
Shus  and  finds  himself  poisoned,  should  imme- 
diately examine  his  hands,  clothes,  ^c.  to  see  if 
there  are  no  spots  of  the  juice  adhering  to  him. 
These,  if  present,  should  be  removed,  as  they  will 
otherwise  serve  to  keep  up  and  extend  the  dis- 
order. From  a  want  of  this  precaution,  the 
disease  is  frequently  transferred  from  the  hands 
to  different  parts  of  the  body,  and  likewise  kept 
up  for  a  longer  time  than  if  the  cause  had  been 
early  removed.  As  washing  does  not  eradicate 
the  stains  of  this  very  adhesive  juice,  it  is  best  to 
rub  them  off  with  some  absorbent  powder. 


POISON  IVY.  29 

The  Rhus  radicans  has  been  administered 
internally  in  certain  diseases  by  a  few  practi- 
tioners in  Europe  and  America.  Dr.  Horsefield, 
in  several  instances,  administered  a  strong 
infusion  in  the  dose  of  about  a  teacup  full  to 
consumptive  and  anasarcous  patients.  It  ap- 
peared to  act  as  an  immediate  stimulant  to  the 
stomach,  producing  some  uneasiness  in  that 
organ,  also  promoting  perspiration  and  diuresis. 
Some  practitioners  in  the  Middle  States,  we  are 
told  by  the  same  author,  have  exhibited  it  with 
supposed  benefit  in  pulmonary  consumption.  A 
French  physician,  Du  Fresnoy,  has  reported 
seven  cases  of  obstinate  herpetic  eruption,  which 
were  cured  by  the  preparations  of  this  plant. 
His  attention  was  drawn  to  the  subject  by  finding 
that  a  young  man  who  had  a  dartre  upon  his 
wrist  of  six  years'  standing,  was  cured  of  it  by 
accidentally  becoming  poisoned  with  this  plant. 
The  same  physician  administered  the  extract  in 
several  cases  of  palsy,  four  of  which,  he  says,  were 
cured  by  it. 

Dr.  Alderson,  of  Hull,  in  England,  gave  the 
Hhus  toxicodendron  in  doses  of  half  a  grain,  or  a 
grain  three  times  a  day,  in  several  cases  oi 
paralysis  ;  and  states,  that  all  his  patients  recov- 
ered, to  a  certain  degree,  the  use  of  their  limbs. 


30  EHUS  RADICANS. 

The  first  symptom  of  amendment  was  an  un- 
pleasant feeling  of  prickling  or  twitching  in  the 
paralytic  limbs.  Dr  Duncan,  author  of  the 
Edinburgh  Dispensatory,  states,  that  he  had 
given  it  in  larger  doses  witliout  experiencing  the 
same  success,  although  he  thinks  it  not  inactive 
as  a  medicine. 

My  own  opinion  is,  that  the  plant  under 
consideration  is  too  uncertain  and  hazardous  to 
be  employed  in  medicine,  or  kept  in  apothecaries' 
shops.  It  is  true,  that  not  more  than  one  person 
in  ten  is  probably  susceptible  of  poison  from  it. 
Tet,  even  this  chance,  small  as  it  is,  should  deter 
us  from  employing  it.  In  persons  not  constitu- 
tionally susceptible  of  the  eruptive  disease,  it  is 
probably  an  inert  medicine,  since  we  find  that 
Du  Fresnoy's  patients  sometimes  carried  the 
dose  as  high  as  an  ounce  of  the  extract,  three 
times  a  day,  without  perceiving  any  efifect  from  it. 

It  is  true  that  the  external  application  of  the 
E,hus  radicans  and  Rhus  vernix  would,  in  certain 
cases,  aiford  a  more  violent  external  stimulus, 
than  any  medicinal  substance  with  which  we  are 
acquainted.  But  since  it  is  neither  certain  in  its 
effect,  nor  manageable  in  its  extent,  the  prospect 
of  benefit,  even  in  diseases  like  palsy  and  mania, 
is  not  sufficient  to  justify  the  risk  of  great  evil. 


POISON  IVY.  31 


JBOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rhus  radicans,  Willd.  Sp.  pi.  i.  1481. — Elliott,  i. — Rhus 
toxicodendron,  &c.  Michaux,  Flor.  i.  183. — Pursh,  i.  205. — Toxi- 
codendron rectum  &c. — Dillenius,  Elth.  t.  291. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Du  Fresno Y,  quoted  in  Jlnnals  of  Medicine,  iv.  182. — v.  483. — 
Med.  and  Phys.  Journal,  i.  308. — vi.  273. — x.  486. — Duncan,  Dis- 
pens.  294 — ^Horsefield,  Dissertation,  Philad.  1798. 


PLATE  XLIL 

g.  1.  Rhus  radicans,  the  barren  plant  in  flower^ 

g.  2.  Fruit. 

g.  3.  Barren  flower. 

g.  4.  Fertile  flower. 

g.  5,  Petal. 

g.  6.  Stamens  and  rudiment  of  a  style  in  the  barren  floiver, 

g.  7.  Germ,  style  and  abortive  stamens  in  the  fertile  flower. 


MYRICA  CEEIFERA. 


Ifucv  Myrtle. 

PLATE  XLIIL 

Almost  every  region  of  the  United  States 
produces  varieties  of  the  Wax  myrtle.  Michaux 
considers  them  all  as  belonging  to  one  species,  a 
conclusion  which  is  warranted  by  the  great  num- 
ber of  intermediate  sizes,  and  forms  of  leaf,  which 
may  he  observed  between  the  different  extremes. 
Pursh,  however,  has  chosen  to  distinguish  three 
species  which  bear  wax,  and  which  he  names 
cerifera  after  Linnseus,  Caroliniensis  from  Will* 
denow,  and  Pennsylvanica  from  Lamarck.  The 
Waoc  myrtle  or  Bayherry,  as  it  is  often  called, 
which  is  common  in  New  England,  varies  in 
height  from  one  to  seven  or  eight  feet.  It  is 
found  in  every  kind  of  soil  from  the  borders  of 
swamps  to  the  tops  of  barren  hills,  and  is  very 
much  influenced  in  its  size  and  appearance,  by 
the  place  in  which  it  happens  to  grow. 


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bv 


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LCi'Cii^,  1' 


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I^LXLUr 


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r^rt^r       rr'i'//<'7'n' 


WAX  MYRTLE.  35 

The  bark  and  leaves  of  the  Myrica  cerifera 
contain  gallic  acid,  tannin,  resin,  and  a  small 
quantity  of  mucilage,  which  are  manifested  by 
their  usual  tests. 

The  wax  of  the  Myrica  is  obtained  for  com- 
mon purposes  by  boiling  large  quantities  of  the 
berries  in  kettles  with  water  enough  to  cover 
them  to  the  depth  of  several  inches.  The  ber- 
ries, which  float  at  first,  gradually  subside  to  the 
bottom  when  the  wax  is  melted  off,  which  latter 
substance  floats  on  the  surface.  When  the 
boiling  has  been  continued  long  enough  to  divest 
the  berries  of  most  of  their  wax,  the  liquid  is 
suffered  to  cool,  and  the  wax  concretes  on  the  top. 
It  is  purified  by  melting  it  anew,  and  is  then  cast 
into  masses. 

In  this  state  it  is  of  a  greenish  gray  colour, 
with  a  consistence  which  is  intermediate  between 
that  of  bees  wax  and  tallow,  being  brittle  and  not 
remarkable  for  adhesiveness  or  unctuosity.  It 
burns  with  a  white  flame,  which  is  less  vivid  than 
that  of  tallow  or  whale  oil. 

The  cliemical  properties  of  this  wax  have 
been  examined  by  M.  Cadet,  in  France,  and  Dr. 
Bostock,  in  England.  From  their  experiments, 
we  learn  that  water  has  no  action  on  the  Myrtle 
wax,   either   cold   or   at   the   boilina*    heat.     Dr. 


36  MYRICA  CERIFERA. 

Bostock  informs  us  that  alcohol,  at  the  ordinary 
temperature  of  the  atmosphere,  has  no  action 
upon  it ;  but  one  hundred  parts  by  weight  of  the 
fluid,  when  boiling,  dissolve  about  five  parts  of 
the  wax.  About  four  fifths  of  this  is  deposited 
by  cooling,  and  the  rest  is  slowly  deposited  in  a 
few  days,  or  may  be  precipitated  by  water.  Of 
the  mass  of  wax,  a  certain  portion  remains  insol- 
uble in  alcohol. 

Sulphuric  ether,  according  to  Dr.  Bostock, 
dissolves  but  little  of  the  wax,  when  cold,  but 
acts  upon  it  rapidly,  when  boiling,  taking  up 
somewhat  more  than  one  quarter  of  its  own 
weight.  Upon  evaporation,  the  wax  is  deposited 
in  a  crystalline  or  lamellated  form,  its  texture 
resembling  that  of  spermaceti. — Rectified  oil  of 
turpentine,  when  assisted  by  heat,  dissolves  about 
six  per  cent  of  its  own  weight,  most  of  which  is 
deposited  on  cooling. — Pure  potash,  in  water, 
renders  the  wax  colourless  by  boiling,  and  forms 
a  soap  with  a  small  part,  which  may  be  decom- 
posed by  an  acid,  and  affords'  the  wax  nearly  un- 
changed.— The  sulphuric  acid,  assisted  by  heat, 
dissolves  about  one  twelfth  of  its  own  weight,  and 
forms  a  dark  brown  mass.  The  nitric  and  muriatic 
acids  exert  very  little  action  upon  it.  Dr.  Bostock 
considers  the  Myrtle  wax  to  be  a  fixed  vegetable 
oil,  rendered  concrete  by  oxygen. 


WAX  MYRTLE.  37 

M.  Cadet,  in  addition  to  many  of  the  above 
characteristics  of  Myrtle  wax,  found  that  it  com- 
bined readily  with  the  semivitreoiis  oxyde  of  lead, 
forming  a  very  hard  plaister.  When  distilled  in 
a  retort,  the  wax  was  partly  decomposed,  and  a 
portion  which  passed  over  was  white  and  of  a 
soft  consistence.  Oxygenated  muriatic  acid 
bleaches  it,  but  with  more  difficulty  than  bees 
wax. 

The  experiments  which  I  have  made  on  this 
substance  confirm  the  preceding  statements  with 
the  following  exceptions.  Cold  alcohol  dissolves 
a  minute  portion,  which  is  gradually  separated  by 
the  addition  of  water,  and  floats  in  perceptible 
flocci,  near  the  surface.  Cold  ether  dissolves 
about  one  sixteenth  of  its  weight.  Tliis  it  does 
with  great  rapidity,  and  if  thin  shavings  of  the 
wax  be  dropped  into  a  vessel  of  ether,  they 
disappear  almost  immediately. 

Dr.  J.  F.  Dana  has  published,  in  Silliman's 
Journal,  an  account  of  some  experiments  made 
to  ascertain  the  proportion  of  wax,  and  of  tbe 
other  parts  which  compose  the  entire  berry. 
He  found  the  wax  to  constitute  nearly  a  third  of 
the  whole,  or  thirty  two  per  cent ;  the  kernels 
47.00,  the  black  powder  1^.00,  with  about  d.OO  of 
a  resino-extractive  matter. 


38  MYRICA  CERIFERA. 

There  undoubtedly  exists,  in  the  berries  of 
this  shrub,  some  interesting  constituents  beside 
the  wax  and  insoluble  portions,  as  the  following 
results  will  show.  If  water  be  distilled  from  the 
fresh  berries,  it  acquires  a  slight  pearly  appear- 
ance and  a  fine  aromatic  odour  and  taste.  This 
indicates  the  presence  of  a  volatile  oil,  though  I 
have  not  performed  the  experiment  sufficiently 
in  the  large  way  to  obtain  any  oil  separate.  The 
decoction  remaining  in  the  retort  gives  proofs  of 
gallic  acid. 

When  the  wax,  in  a  separate  state,  is  boiled 
in  alcohol,  a  portion  is  dissolved,  which  is  mostly 
deposited  on  cooling,  leaving  the  fluid  clear. 
But  if  alcohol  be  boiled  upon  the  berries  till  a 
strong  solution  is  formed,  it  does  not  give  a 
deposit  on  cooling,  but  the  solution  coagulates 
into  a  soft  solid  and  remains  afterwards  unaltered. 
This  coagulum  is  readily  soluble  in  cold  ether, 
and  melts  when  exposed  to  heat.  If  the  berries 
be  boiled  in  water  until  the  wax  is  melted  and 
principally  detached,  the  remaining  parts  still 
give  a  coagulating  solution  with  alcohol. — The 
tincture  made  by  digesting  cold  alcohol  on  the 
bruised  berries  is  considerably  coloured,  and 
becomes  turbid  on  the  addition  of  water,  but 
whether  the  resinous  sybstance  thus  precipitated 


WAX  MYRTLE.  3^ 

is  the  same  in  small  quantity,  which  produces 
the  coagulation  in  a  large  one  ,  I  am  not  pre- 
pared to  say. 

It  appears,  then,  that  there  exists  in  the 
berries  of  the  Myrica  a  peculiar  vegetable  prin- 
ciple, bearing  nearly  the  same  relation  to  alcohol^ 
as  starch  and  gelatin  do  to  water.  I  have  not  yet 
obtained  it  in  a  separate  state,  and  cannot  there- 
fore give  any  additional  characteristics  to  those 
which  have  been  already  stated. 

The  Myrtle  wax  is  useful  for  many  of  the 
purposes  for  which  bees  wax  and  tallow  are 
employed,  particularly  for  candles.  It  burns 
with  a  clear  flame,  though  less  vivid  than  that  of 
common  oil,  and  emits  a  considerable  fragrance. 
It  was  formerly  much  in  demand  as  an  ingredi- 
ent in  a  species  of  Macking  ball,  to  which  it  com- 
m^unicated  a  tempori^'y  lustre  and  power  of  re- 
pelling water.  It  has  occasionally  been  used 
in  pharmacy  in  various  compositions  intended  for 
external  use,  aod  is  mild  or  stimulating  according 
as  it  is  more  or  less  pure  and  freed  from  the 
colouring  matter. 

In  some  parts  of  Europe  plantations  of  this 
shrub  have  been  raised  with  a  view  to  the  profit 
to  be  derived  from  the  wax.  In  this  country, 
where  the  shrub  abounds,  the  berries  are  often 


4^0  MYRICA  CERIFERA. 

neglected,  their  collectioQ  and  the  separation  of 
the  wax  being  deemed  too  laborious  to  compen- 
sate the  trouble. 

In  Dr.  Thatcher's  Dispensatory,  we  are  in- 
formed, on  the  authority  of  Dr.  Mann,  that  the 
bark  of  the  root  of  the  Mjrica  cerifera  is  emetic. 
With  a  view  to  examining  thoroughly  its  medici- 
nal properties,  Dr.  S.  L.  Dana,  in  1818,  made  it 
the  subject  of  an  inaugural  dissertation.  He 
found  that  the  powdered  bark  was  acrid  and  as- 
tringent, but  did  not  appear  to  possess  any  other 
qualities  than  were  attributable  to  those  two. 
Moderate  doses  of  the  powder  and  decoction  pro- 
duced no  effect  on  the  stomach  or  bowels.  Large 
doses,  for  instance  two  scruples,  were  swallowed 
with  difficulty  on  account  of  their  acrimony,  and 
occasioned  heat  and  nausea  at  the  stomach. 
Larger  doses,  of  a  drachm,  produced  a  powerful 
burning  sensation  and  vomiting.  Costiveness 
generally  followed  the  use  of  this  medicine.  The 
powder,  when  snuffed  up  the  nose,  proved  pow- 
erfully sternutatory,  and  when  applied  to  the 
fungous  granulations  of  an  ulcerated  leg,  it  pro- 
duced so  much  pain  as  compelled  the  patient  to 
wash  it  off. 

Yf  e  may  then  consider  the  bark  of  the  Myrica 
as  an   acrid  stimulant  and  astringent.     That  it 


WAX  MYRTLE.  4i 

scunetimes  proves  emetic,  in  large  doses,  is  to  be 
explained  in  the  same  way  as  tlie  operation  of 
mustard  and  horse-radish,  which  some  of  the 
older  physicians  employed  as  emetics.  "When 
the  stomach  is  burdened  with  an  undue  quantity 
of  stimulus,  it  naturally  tends  to  relieve  itself  by 
vomiting. 

On  the  whole,  we  are  to  esteem  the  Myrica 
cerifera  as  more  interesting  in  a  chemical,  than  a 
medical  point  of  view.  The  pleasant  aroma  of 
the  water  distilled  from  the  berries,  and  the  ap- 
plication of  the  wax  to  some  purposes  of  phar- 
macy, are  all,  that  this  shrub  at  present  offers, 
much  deserving  the  attention  of  physicians. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Myrica  cerifera,  Willd.  iv.  745. — Michaux,  ii.  227. — Pursh^ 

ii.  620. — Myrtus  foliis  lanceolatis,  &c. — Gronovius,  155.— Myrtus 
brabanticse  similis,  &c. — Catesby,  i.  13  ? 


MEDICAL  AND  CHEMICAL  REFERENCES. 

Cadkt,  translated  in  JSTicliohon's  Journal,  8^'o.  vol.  iv.  187.—= 
BosTocK,  in  ditto,  129. — Kalm,  Travels,  i,  129. — Dana,  in  Silliman's 
Journal,  vol.  i. — Thacher,  Disp.  288. 

6 


4^  MYRICA  CEllIFERA. 


PLATE  XLIII. 


Fig,  1.  Myrica  cerifera,  with  fruit  not  fully  ripe. 

Fig.  2.  Jl  barren  branch  in  flower. 

Fig.  3,  Fertile  ditto  in  flower. 

Fig.  4.  Jl  barren  flower. 

Fig.  5.  The  same  with  the  scale  turned  down,  shewing  the  mode 

of  growth  of  the  anthers. 
Fig.  6.  Fertile  flower. 
Fig.  7.  Fruit  somewhat  magnified. 


j}ir^^y^<'^^^'  ^^'''''''' 


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JUNIPEEUS  COMMUNIS. 


Common  Juniper. 

PLATE  XLiv:^ 

A  HE  prostrate  variety  of  the  common  Juniper 
is  so  peculiar  in  its  mode  of  growth,  that  it  has 
some  claims  to  he  considered  a  distinct  species. 
On  comparing  it,  however,  with  European  speci- 
mens, I  find  the  similarity  so  great,  that  I  do  not 
see  sufficient  grounds  for  separating  it,  especially 
as  there  are,  in  Europe,  several  varieties  in  size 
and  mode  of  growth,  which  are  not  recognized  as 
separate  species.  The  variety,  which  is  the  only 
one  I  have  met  with  in  the  Northern  States,  is  a 
large  trailing  shrub,  continually  throwing  out 
roots  from  its  branches,  and  spreading  in  all 
directions  until  it  forms  beds,  which  are  many 
rods  in  circumference.  In  this  way  it  continues 
to  advance  outward,  supporting  itself  by  new 
roots  even  after  the  original  trunks,  at  the  centre, 

*  Very  beautiful  drawings,  froui  which  this  and  the  following 
plate  are  engraved,  were  sent  me  by  a  lady  in  Hampshire  county. 


44  JUNIPERUS   COMMUNIS. 

are  dead  and  decayed.    It  seldom  rises  more  thaii 
two  or  three  feet  from  the  ground. 

The  genus  Juniperus  belongs  to  the  class 
Dioecia,  order  Monadelphia,  and  natural  order 
Coniferce  of  Linnaeus  and  Jussieu.  It  is  distin- 
guished by  an  ovate  anient  with  peltate  scales, 
which,  in  the  barren  flowers,  are  whorled  in  threes^ 
with  from  two  to  four  anthers  ;  in  the  fertile  ones 
opposite.  Berry  three  seeded^^-^ln  the  common 
Juniper,  the  leaves  are  ternate^  spreading^  mucro^ 
nate,  larger  than  the  herry. 

The  Juniper  is  with  us  always  a  shrub,  never 
rising  into  a  tree.  The  tips  of  the  branches  are 
smooth  and  angular.  The  leaves  grow  in  threes 
and  are  linear-acerose,  sharply  mucronate,  shining 
green  on  their  lower  surface,  but  with  a  broad 
glaucous  line  through  the  centre  of  the  upper. 
These  leaves,  however,  are  always  resupinate,  and 
turn  their  upper  surface  toward  the  ground. 
The  barren  flowers  grow  in  small  axillary  aments, 
with  roundish,  acute,  stipitate  scales,  inclosing 
several  anthers.  The  fertile  flov/ers,  growing  on 
a  separate  shrub,  have  a  small,  three  parted  calyx 
growing  to  the  germ  ;  and  three  styles.  The  fruit 
is  a  fleshy,  roundish,  oblong  berry,  of  a  dark 
purplish  colour,  formed  of  the  germ  and  conflu- 
ent  calyx,  marked   with   three   prominences    or 


COMMON  JUNIPER.  47 

flavour.  The  best  of  the  latter  are  said  to  be 
from  Italy.  But  of  the  imported  specimens, 
which  I  have  examined  at  the  druggists'  shops 
in  this  country,  very  few  possess  any  remains  of 
the  original  strength,  and  much  the  greater 
portion  of  them  appear  to  have  undergone  at 
least  one  distillation,  before  their  exportation  from 
Europe.  The  best  Juniper  berries  have  a  strong 
impregnation  of  volatile  oil,  which,  having  been 
once  tasted,  cannot  be  easily  mistaken.  Those 
which  have  been  subjected  to  distillation  are  dry 
and  tasteless. 


BOTANICAL  BEFERENCES. 

Juniperus  communis,  Linn. — Smith,  Flor.  Brit.  iii.  1085. —  EngL 
Bot.  t  1100. — WooDviLLE,  ii.  t.  95. — Michaux,  ii.  245. — .Pursh,  ik 
646. — Blackwell,  t.  187. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

MuiiRAY,  Jlp2J.  Med.  i.  34. — Lewis,  Disp,  240. — Linnaeus,  Flora 
Lapj).  376. — WooDviLLE,  ut  supra. 


48  JUNIPERUS  COMMUNIS, 


PLATE  XLIV. 

Fig.  1.  A  hrancli  ofJuniperiis  communis  in  fniih 

Fig.  2.  A  barren  twig  in  flower. 

Fig;.  3.  Barren  ament. 

Fig.  4.  Scale  of  anthers  of  the  same-. 

Fig.  5. '  Fertile  flower. 


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JUNIPERUS  VIRGINIANA. 


Red  Cedar, 
PLATE  XLV. 

Unlike  the  subject  of  the  preceding  article, 
this  species  rises  into  a  tree  of  considerable  size. 
It  is  the  largest  of  the  Junipers  growing  within 
the  original  limits  of  the  United  States,  though 
it  appears  that  Lewis  and  Clarke  brought  home 
specimens  of  a  loftj  tree,  with  foliage  resembling 
the  Savin,  found  on  the  banks  of  streams  among 
the  Rocky  mountains,  and  which  is  supposed  to 
be  the  same  with  J.  excelsa,  growing  in   Siberia. 

Michaux,  in  his  North  American  Sjlva,  in- 
forms us,  that  it  is  found  from  Maine  and  from 
Lake  Champlain,  without  interruption  to  the 
Cape  of  Florida.  In  the  Middle  and  Northern 
states,  it  frequents  the  most  barren  soils,  being 
found  in  abundance  upon  dry,  rocky  hills,  where 
scarcely  any  other  tree  can  subsist.  Its  size, 
however,  is  said  to  be  here  inferior  to  that  which 
it  attains  in  Virginia,  and  farther  south. 


50  JUNIPEllUS  VIRGINIANA. 

Its  habit  and  foliage  abundantly  distinguish  it 
from  the  species  in  the  last  article.  From  the 
Juniperus  Sabina,  or  common  Savin  of  Europe, 
its  botanical  distinction  is  by  no  means  easy. 
The  general  appearance  and  arrangement  of  the 
leaves  in  the  full  grown  specimens  of  both  is 
precisely  the  same,  except  that  in  the  Red  cedar 
the  leaves  are  shorter  and  more  compactly  im- 
bricated, having  an  ovate  form,  while  in  the 
Savin  they  are  somewhat  longer  and  more  remote, 
and  may  be  called  lanceolate.  In  the  Red  cedar 
they  are  also  more  universally  and  pungently 
acute.  The  characters  of  the  latter  species, 
which  I  have  seen  given  by  different  botanists, 
are  almost  all  defective,  in  ascribing  to  it  ternate 
kaves,  which,  I  believe,  never  exist  except  in 
imperfect  or  distorted  specimens.  Its  more  true 
.character  is  as  follows.  Trunk  arboreous,  upper 
leaves  imbricated  in  four  rows,  ovate,  pungently 
acute.  It  is  by  no  means  certain  that  on  mature 
examination  all  the  present  species  of  Juniper 
will  be  found  sufficiently  distinct  to  be  kept 
separate. 

The  Red  cedar,  when  full  grown,  is  a  middling 
sized  tree,  though,  on  account  of  the  value  of  its 
wood,  it  is  seldom  suffered  to  reach  its  full  dimen- 
sions.   The  trunk  is  straight  and  decreases  rapidly 


RED  CEDAR.  52 

This  preparation  is  the  same  with  the  Savin 
cerate,  used  in  Europe,  the  leaves  of  the  Red 
cedar  being  substituted  for  those  of  the  Savin. 
When  properly  prepared  by  boiling  the  fresh 
leaves  for  a  short  time  in  about  twice  their  weight 
of  lard  with  the  addition  of  a  little  wax,  a  cerate 
is  formed  of  •  peculiar  efficacy  as  a  perpetual 
epispastic.  When  applied  as  a  dressing  to  a 
newly  vesicated  surface,  and  afterwards  repeated 
twice  a  day,  it  rarely  fails  to  keep  up  the  dis- 
charge for  an  indefinite  length  of  time.  Under 
its  operation,  the  discharge  usually  changes  from 
a  serous  to  a  puriform  appearance,  and  concretes 
upon  the  surface  ;  so  that  it  requires  to  be  re- 
moved from  time  to  time,  to  admit  the  full  action 
of  the  cerate. 

Internally  the  leaves  of  the  Juniperus  Virgin- 
iana  have  been  found  to  exert  effects  very  similar 
to  those  of  the  Savin.  They  have  proved  useful 
as  an  emmenagogue,  and  as  a  general  stimulant 
and  diaphoretic  in  rheumatism.  They  have  also 
liad  some  reputation  as  a  diuretic  in  dropsy. 

The  wood  of  the  Red  cedar  is  smooth,  light, 
and  \evj  durable.  Its  alburnum  is  white,  but 
the  heart  wood  of  a  beautiful  red  colour,  whence 
its  name  is  derived.  It  is  principally  employed 
for  posts  in  fences,  in   which  capacity  it  proves 


54!  JUNIPERUS  VIRGINIANA. 

more  du-able  than  almost  any   species  of  wood 
used  for  the  same  purpose. 


BOTANICAIi  REFERENCES. 

Juniperus  Virginiana,   Willd.  iv.  8€2,— -!Pursh,  ii.  647.— Mi- 
CHAuXjjfiL  JV.  d.  Sylva,  t.  155. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCE, 

Thacher,  Disp.  247. 

PLATE  XLV. 

Fig.  1.  Juniperus  Virginiana  in  fruit. 
Fig.  2.  Variety  with  long  leaves. 
Fig.  3.  Barren  branch  in  flower. 
Fig.  4.  Barren  anient  magnified, 
Fiff.  5.  Scale  and  anthers. 


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MENYANTHES  TRIFOLIATA. 


Buck  Bean, 

PLJITE  XLVI. 

J.  HE  Bnch  bean  or  Marsh  Trefoil  is  one  of 
those  plants  which  are  native  in  Europe  and 
North  America,  with  so  little  difference  of  struc- 
ture, in  tlie  two  continents,  that  their  specific 
identity  can  hardly  be  doubted.  I  have  com- 
pared specimens  of  the  native,  and  foreign  plant, 
without  being  able  to  perceive  the  least  definable 
difference,  except  in  size  ;  the  American  being 
smaller.  Yet,  if  we  admit  the  statements  of 
botanical  writers,  the  plant  flowers  in  England  at 
least  a  month  later  than  it  does  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  Boston,  a  circumstance  not  usual  in 
otlier  species  of  vegetables. 

The  most  spongy  and  boggy  soils,  which  are 
inundafed  at  certain  seasons,  and  never  wholly 
destitute  of  water,  are  the  favorite  situations  of  the 
Menyanthes  trifoliata.     It  often  constitutes  large 


56  MENYANTHES  TRIFOJLIATA, 

beds  at  the  margin  of  ponds  and  brooks.  It  is 
common  in  New  England,  and  grows,  according 
to  Pursh,  as  far  south  as  Virginia. 

The  genus  Meiiyanthes  has  its  corolla  hairy 
on  the  upper  side;  stigma  bifid;  capsule  one 
celled,  two  valved.  The  species  in  the  present 
article  is  named  from  its  ternate  leaves.  Class 
Pentandria.  Order  Monogynia.  INatm^al  orders 
Motacew,  Lin.     Gentianm,  Juss. 

The  root  of  this  plant  penetrates  horizontally 
in  the  bog-earth  to  a  great  distance.  It  is  regu- 
larly intersected  with  joints  at  the  distance  of 
about  half  an  inch  from  each  other,  these  joints 
being  formed  by  the  breaking  off  of  the  old  pe- 
tioles and  their  sheaths.  The  leaves  proceed  from 
the  end  of  the  root  on  long  stalks  furnished  with 
broad  sheathing  stipules  at  base.  They  are  tri- 
foliate, nearly  oval,  glabrous,  somewhat  fleshy, 
and  slightly  repand,  or  furnished  with  many 
irregularities  at  the  edge,  which  hardly  prevent 
them  from  being  entire.  The  scape  is  round, 
ascending  and  smooth,  bearing  a  conical  raceme 
of  flowers.  Peduncles  straight,  scattered,  sup- 
ported by  ovate  concave  bractes.  Calyx  erect, 
subcampanulate,  five  parted,  persistent.  Corolla 
funnel  shaped,  the  tube  short,  the  border  five 
cleft,  spreading  and  at  length  revolute,  clothed  on 


BUCK  BEAN.  5^, 

related  in  its  botanical  habit,  as  well  as  sensible 
properties. 

We  may  regard  this  plant  as  one  of  the 
numerous  vegetable  bitters  abounding  in  our 
country,  which  are  fully  equal  in  strength  to 
imported  articles  of  their  class,  and  which  may 
hereafter  lessen  our  dependance  on  foreign 
drugs. 

Linnseus,  in  his  Flora  Lapponica,  informs  us^ 
that  in  times  of  scarcity,  sheep  will  subsist  upon 
this  plant,  notwithstanding  its  bitterness.  The 
Laplanders  employ  it  as  a  substitute  for  hops  to 
prevent  acescency  in  their  beer.  They  even 
introduce  it  in  some  instances  into  their  bread, 
upon  which  Linnseus  bestows  the  epithet,  "  ama= 
rus  et  detestabilis." 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES, 

Menyanthes  trifoliata,  Linn.  Sp.  pi. — QEder.  Flora  Ban.  t.  SAlt 
— Curtis,  Flov.  Lond.  4.  t  17. — Woodville,  Med.  Bot.  t.  2. — 
Smith,  Engl.  Bot.  t.  495. — Michaux,  Flora,  i.  1 25. — Pursh,  i.  139. — 
Menyanthes  palustre  triphyllum,  Ray.  Syn.  285. — Trifolium  palu<- 
dosum,  Gerard,  em.  1194. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  Apparatus  med.  ii.  33. — Linn^us,  Fl.  Lap.  50. — Hal- 
LER,  Hist.  Stirp.  Helv.  633. — Cullen,  Mat.Med.u,  53. — Thomeson, 
Lond.  Disp.  9,5Q. 


00  MENYANTHES  TRIFOLIATA^ 


PLATE  XLVI. 

Fig.  1.  Menyanthes  trifoliata^ 

Fig.  2.  Calyx. 

Fig.  3.  Petal 

Fig.  4.  Stamen^ 

Fig.  5.  Style, 

T'm,  6.  Fruit* 


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RANUNCULUS  BULBOSUS. 


Bulbous  Crowfoot. 

PLATE  XLVIL 

J.T  is  a  remarkable  fact  that  a  great  portion 
of  the  weeds,  which  are  most  troublesome  in  the 
United  States,  are  of  European  origin,  having 
intruduced  themselves  since  the  discovery  of  th^s 
country.  Some  of  these  emigrants  have  settled 
in  our  grazing  and  mowing  lands,  such  as  the 
Ranunculus  bulbosus,  acris  and  repens,  indis- 
criminately called  Buttercups,  Crowfoot,  and 
Tellow  weed;  the  Chrysanthemum  leucanthe- 
mum,  or  White  weed;  the  Rumex  acetosella,  or 
Sorrel;  the  Hypericum  perforatum,  or  St.  John^s 
wort,  ^c.  In  our  cornfields  and  gardens  are 
quartered  the  Couch  grass,  Triticum  repens  ,  the 
different  species  of  Goosefoot  or  Pig  weed,  Che- 
nopodium  ;  the  Bock,  Rumex  crispus,  ^c. ;  the 
Charlock  or  Wild  Radish,  Raphanus  Raphanis- 
trum  j  Burdock,  Arctium  lappa,  ^'c.     Some  have 


62  RANUNCULUS  BULEOSUS. 

commenced  their  inroads  within  a  few  years,  such 
as  the  Cnicus  arvensis,  improperly  called  Canada 
thistle  ;  the  Genista  tinctoria  or  Byer^s  weed,  §c. 
— In  retnrn  for  these  introductions,  we  have  sent 
them  the  Erigeron  Canadense,  and  the  prolific 
families  of  Ambrosia  and  Amaranthus. 

No  race  of  plants  is  more  familiarly  known 
than  the  Eanunculi.  Of  numerous  species,  both 
native  and  imported,  which  we  possess ;  several 
resemble  each  other  so  nearly,  as  to  pass  with 
common  observers  for  the  same  plant.  The 
great  similarity  of  their  properties  renders  it 
almost  unnecessary  in  a  medical  or  economical 
point  of  view  to  distinguish  them.  I  have  selected 
the  bulbous-rooted  species,  not  because  it  is  more 
active  in  its  properties  than  many  others,  but 
because  it  is  one  of  the  most  common  and  best 
known. 

The  genus  belongs  to  the  class  Polyandria, 
and  order  Foly^ynia.  It  is  found  in  the  natural 
orders  Multisiliquoe,  Linn,  and  Banimculacew, 
Juss.  Its  generic  character  is  formed  by  a  jive 
leaved  calyoc ;  five  petals,  with  a  melliferous  pore 
at  the  base  of  each  ;  the  seeds  naked.  No  genus 
can  be  more  strictly  natural  than  this.  A  general 
resemblance  pervades  the  whole  of  the  species, 
which  indicates   their    consanguinity    at    sight. 


BULBOUS  CROWFOOT.  Q5 

admixture  of  alcohol.  But  the  most  interestinar 
constituent  in  this,  and  in  most  other  species,  is 
the  acrid  principle  which  pervades  every  part  of 
the  plant  in  its  green  state.  Like  the  acrimony 
of  the  Arum,  it  is  volatile,  and  disappears  in  dry- 
ing, or  upon  the  application  of  heat.  It  differs, 
however,  in  not  being  destroyed  by  a  moderate 
heat,  and  in  being  fully  preserved  in  distillation. 
I  have  subjected  various  species  of  Ranunculus 
to  this  experiment,  and  always  found  the  distilled 
water  to  possess  a  strong  acrimony ;  while  the 
decoction  and  portions  of  the  plant  remaining  in 
the  retort  were  wholly  destitute  of  this  property. 
This  distilled  water,  when  first  taken  into  the 
mouth,  excited  no  particular  effect ;  but  after 
a  few  seconds  a  sharp,  stinging  sensation  was 
always  produced.  When  swallowed,  a  great 
sense  of  heat  took  place  in  the  stomach.  I  pre- 
served some  of  the  water  distilled  from  leaves  of 
Eanunculus  repens,  for  several  months  in  a  close 
stopped  pliial ;  during  which  time  it  retained  its 
acrimony  undiminished.  In  winter  time  it  froze, 
and  on  thawing  had  lost  this  property.  Tilebein, 
as  quoted  by  I)r.  Pulteney,  in  some  experiments 
on  this  genus  of  plants,  found  that  water  distilled 
from  a.  sceleratus,  on  cooling,  deposited  small 
crystals,  which  were  hardly  soluble  in  any  men- 


66  RANUNCULUS  BULBOSUS. 

struum,  and  were  of  an  inflammable  natm^e.  1 
have  not  met  with  an  appearance  of  this  kind. 
The  distilled  water,  however,  had  a  substance 
dissolved  in  sufficient  quantity  to  yield  a  gradual 
precipitate  with  some  reagents,  such  as  muriate 
of  tin  and  acetate  of  lead.  The  strength  of  the 
distilled  water  is  impaired  by  continuing  the 
op?  ration  too  long.  1  he  acrimony  of  the  plant 
is  expended  in  a  very  short  time  at  the  boiling 
heat,  and  a  farther  continuance  of  the  distillation 
brings  over  only  water. 

Since  the  time  of  Dioscorides  [JVofe  A.]  the 
acrid  and  stimulating  properties  of  the  Ranunculi 
have  been  well  known.  This  acrimony  resides 
in  all  the  species,  with  the  exception  of  JR.  aiivi- 
comus,  which  is  said  to  be  mild,  and  perhaps  two 
or  three  others.  It  is  so  powerful  that  it  speed- 
ily inflames  or  corrodes  the  lips  and  tongue,  if 
kept  in  contact  with  them.  In  the  nostrils  it 
acts  as  a  violent  sternutatory,  and  if  swallowed  in 
considerable  quantity,  it  brings  on  great  pain, 
heat  and  inflammation  of  the  stomach,  and  has 
even  occasioned  convulsions  and  death. 

Before  the  introduction  of  Cantharides  as  a 
vesicatory,  different  species  of  Ranunculus  were 
used  upon  the  skin,  as  external  stimulants. 
Their  power  of  occasioning  erosion  and  ulceration 


BULBOUS  CROWFOOT.  67 

appears  to  have  been  known  to  the  ancients. 
Different  medical  writers  have  given  accounts  of 
their  mode  of  operation  ;  but  the  most  extensive 
history  and  investigation  is  that  of  Krapf,  pub- 
lished at  Vienna,  in  1766.  This  work,  which  I 
have  not  seen,  is  quoted  in  all  its  principal  facts 
by  Professor  Murray  of  Gftttingen  in  the  Appara- 
tus medicaminum.  According  to  this  author  the 
various  species,  with  which  his  experiments  were 
made,  proved  capable  of  exciting  inflammation, 
blistering  and  ulceration,  when  applied  to  the 
skin.  A  slice  of  the  fresh  root  of  R.  bulbosus 
placed  in  contact  with  the  inside  of  the  finger, 
brought  on  a  sense  of  burning  in  two  minutes. 
When  taken  off,  the  skin  was  found  without  red- 
ness, and  the  sense  of  heat  and  itching  ceased. 
In  two  hours,  however,  it  returned  again,  and  in 
ten  hours  a  full  serous  blister  was  raised.  This 
was  followed  bv  an  ulcer  of  bad  character  and 
difficult  to  heal.  He  remarks  that,  if  the  appli- 
cation is  continued  after  the  first  itching,  the 
pain  and  subsequent  erosion  is  much  greater. 
From  the  accounts  given  of  this  species,  also 
of  R.  sceleratus,  H.  acris,  and  some  others,  it 
appears  that  the  leaves,  flowers,  buds,  or  roots  of 
these  plants,  if  bruised  and  applied  to  the  skin, 
excite  redness  and  vesication.     This  effect  is   not 


&8  RANUNCULUS  BULBOSUS. 

constant,  but  fails  to  take  place  in  certain  con- 
stitutions or  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year, 
(xenerally,  however,  they  are  said  to  operate  in 
half  an  hour,  or  less,  from  the  time  of  their  appli- 
cation. They  are  stated  to  possess  the  advantage 
over  blisters  made  by  flies,  that  they  never  occa- 
sion symptoms  of  strangui'y. 

With  a  view  to  their  external   stimulus  they 
have  been  used   advantageously  in  rheumatism, 
the  hip  disease,  hemicrania,   and  fixed  pains   of 
various  descriptions.     Among  the  old  practition- 
ers, who  have  recorded  instances  of  their  effects, 
are  Baglivi,  Storck,  and  Sennertius.     A  curious 
practice,  at  one  time,  prevailed  in   several  coun- 
tries in  Europe,  of  applying  the   Ranunculus   to 
the  wrists  or  fingers,  for  the  cure  of  intermittent 
fever.    This  is  mentioned  by  Yan  Swieten,  Tissot, 
and  some  others.     In  hemicrania  it  was  applied 
to  the  head,  and  in  this  case  it  did  not  produce   a 
discharge,   nor  break  the  skin  ;   but  occasioned 
tumefaction  of  the  hairy  scalp. 

An  objection  against  the  use  of  the  Eanunculi, 
as  external  stimulants,  exists  in  the  uncertainty  of 
their  operation,  and  the  violent  effects  which 
sometimes  have  followed  after  they  had  been  ap- 
plied. Those  writers,  who  have  witnessed  their 
application,  record  instances  in  which  these  vege- 


BULBOUS  CROWFOOT.  09 

table  blisters  have  been  followed  by  deep,  ill- 
conditioned  and  slongbiug  ulcers,  which  were  not 
healed  without  great  difficulty.  Tissot  mentions 
an  instance,  in  which  an  application  made  to  the 
thumb  caused  a  deep,  painful  ulcer,  which  pene- 
trated to  the  bone,  and  occupied  some  months  in 
its  cure.  In  another  case  the  blister  spread,  in 
a  few  hours,  over  the  whole  arm,  occasioning 
fever  and  delirium,  and  was  followed  by  such  a 
tendency  to  gangrene,  that  the  limb  was  with 
difficulty  saved.  Chesnau,  quoted  by  Murray, 
advises  that  the  Eanunculus  should  be  applied 
to  a  small  surface  only,  and  through  a  perforation 
in  an  adhesive  plaister,  to  prevent  it  from  spread- 
ing. From  want  of  this  caution,  he  had  known 
extensive  inflammation  to  arise  and  spread  over 
a  greater  part  of  the  face,  neck,  and  breast. — 
Linnseus,  in  his  Flora  Suecica,  relates  that  beg- 
gars, in  Sweden,  were  known  to  excite  ulcerations 
of  their  feet  with  the  Eanunculus  sceleratus,  to 
assist  them  in  extorting  charity  from  passengers. 
I  know  not  to  what  extent  the  efficacy  of  the 
Ranunculi,  externally  applied,  can  be  depended 
on.  Certain  it  is  that  they  do  not  affect  all 
persons  alike,  and  this  fact  is  avowed  by  those 
who  have  used  them  most.  I  have  repeatedly 
made  applications    of    the    contused    roots    and 


fO  RANUNCULUS  BULBOSUS. 

leaves  of  different  species  to  my  arm  and  hand^ 
and  worn  them  for  a  dozen  hours,  without  feeling 
any  particular  sensation,  or  perceiving  any  visible 
eifect.  The  rapid  drying  up  of  the  moisture  of 
the  plant  seemed  to  prevent  it  from  acting  upon 
the  skin.  I  am  inclined  to  believe,  there  is 
something  in  the  action  of  these  vegetables  anal- 
ogous to  that  of  the  poisonous  species  of  Rhus 
described  in  this  work ;  which  some  individuals, 
but  not  all,  are  susceptible  of.  The  extensive 
and  spreading  inflammation,  which  they  occa- 
sionally produce,  resembles  more  the  effect  of 
these  shrubs,  than  of  any  of  the  ordinary  rube- 
facients or  vesicants. 

The  burning  sensation  which  the  Ranunculi 
excite  in  the  mouth  when  chewed,  extends  to 
the  stomach  if  they  are  swallowed.  Krapf  states 
that  a  small  portion  of  a  leaf  or  flower  of  R. 
sceleratus,  or  two  drops  of  the  juice,  excited 
acute  pain  in  the  stomach,  and  a  sense  of  inflam- 
mation in  the  throat.  He  gave  a  large  quantity 
of  the  juice  to  a  dog,  which  brought  on  vomiting 
and  great  distress  ;  and  the  animal  being  killed, 
was  found  with  the  stomacli  inflamed  and  con- 
tracted, and  the  pylorus  hardly  pervious.  The 
same  author  informs  us  that  dilution  greatly 
diminishes  the  power  of  this  fluid,  so  that  half  a 


BULBOUS  CROWFOOT.  71 

drachm  of  the  juice,  in  six  ounces  of  water,  may 
be  taken  with  entire  safety. 

Dr.  Withering,  as  quoted  by  Dr.  Pulteney  in 
the  Liiinsean  transactions,  asserts,  that  the  dis- 
tilh'd  water  of  Ranunculus  flammula  is  an  emetic 
more  instantaneous  and  less  offensive  than  sul- 
phate of  zinc.  I  know  not  in  what  publication  of 
Dr.  W.  this  statement  is  made,  but  the  fact 
appears  to  me  not  improbable.  Acrid  substances, 
sucli  as  mustard,  pepper,  and  horse-radish,  if 
swallowed  in  large  quantities,  excite  the  stomach 
to  relieve  itself  by  vomiting.  An  objection, 
however,  exists  against  the  distilled  water,  owinsc 
to  the  uncertainty  of  its  strength  ;  which  must 
vary  in  proportion  to  the  quantity  of  the  plant 
employed,  the  time  occupied  in  distillation,  and 
the  subsequent  time  for  which  the  fluid  is  kept. 

Krapf  states  that  R.  auricomus  and  R.  lanugi- 
nosus  are  so  free  from  acrimony,  that  they  are 
eaten  as  greens  or  sallads.  All  the  species  lose 
their  pungency  in  boiliog,  so  that  even  the  R. 
sceleratus,  one  of  the  most  acrid,  is  used  for  the 
same  purpose. 

Grazing  cattle  generally  avoid  the  plants  of 
this  genus,  which  grow  among  grass,  as  far  as 
it  is  possible  for  them  to  do  it.  Accordingly  we 
observe  the  flowers  of  Ranunculi  left  untouched. 


f^  llANUNCULUS  BULBOSUS. 

while  the  grass  is  closely  cropped  around  them. 
It  is  nevertheless  unavoidable,  so  common  are 
these  plants,  that  portions  of  them  should  be 
eaten  very  often  by  these  animals.  It  is  probable 
that  small  quantities  of  the  less  acrid  sorts  do 
them  no  injury.  At  least,  it  appears  that  their 
stomachs  are  much  less  susceptible  to  this  kind 
of  stimulus  than  ours.  In  the  Pan  Suecus  some 
experiments  upon  these  plants,  with  domestic 
animals,  are  detailed  ;  in  which,  it  is  stated  that, 
horned  cattle  refused  to  eat  all  the  species  when 
offered  to  them,  except  R.  auricomus.  This 
species  was  rejected  by  horses,  while  they  would 
eat  R.  flammula.  Sheep  and  goats  eat  the  R. 
acris,  one  of  the  most  pungent  species.  Dr. 
Pulteney  states,  as  a  well  known  fact,  that  hogs. 
in  England,  devour  the  roots  of  R.  bulbosus. 
How  it  is  that  these  animals  resist  the  deleterious 
effects  of  so  virulent  plants,  it  is  not  easy  to  say. 
It  is,  however,  a  not  more  remarkable  fact,  than 
the  power  of  some  animals  to  devour  CantharideS 
and  even  mineral  poisons  with  impunity.* 

In  their  dry  state,  various  species  of  Ranun- 
culus enter  into  the  composition  of  hay,  particu- 
larly R.  acris.  Having  lost  their  acrimony 
altogether  in  drying,  they  are  haniiless  and 
probably  nutritive. 

*  See  a  notCj  vol.  i.  p.  164. 


BULBOUS  CROWFOOT.  73 

I)r.  Pulteney  has  published  a  memoir  in  the 
Liiiiiffian  transactions  on  the  economical  use  of 
some  of  the  Ranunculi,  particularly  the  R.  fluvia- 
tilis,  which  he  considers  a  variety  of  R.  aquatilis. 
Contrary  to  the  common  effects  of  the  other 
species,  this  plant  is  said,  by  him,  to  be  not  only 
imiocent,  but  highly  nutritive  to  cattle.  He  states 
that,  "  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Ringwood,  on  the 
borders  of  the  Avon,  which  affords  this  vegetable 
in  great  abundance  all  the  year,  some  of  the 
cottagers  sustain  their  cows,  and  even  horses/ 
almost  wholly  upon  this  plant ;  since  the  remain- 
ing part  of  their  food  is  nothing  more  than  a 
scanty  pittance,  they  get  on  the  adjacent  heath, 
which  affords  little  more  than  Ling,  Lichen,  Bog- 
moss  or  Sphagnum,  ^c.  It  is  usual  to  employ 
a  man  to  collect  a  quantity  for  the  day  every 
morning,  and  bring  it  in  the  boat  to  the  edge  of 
the  water,  from  which  the  cows,  in  the  instance 
seen,  stood  eating  it  with  great  avidity.  I  was 
indeed  informed,"  says  he,  "  they  relished  it  so 
highly,  that  it  was  unsafe  to  allow  them  more 
than  a  certain  quantity;  I  think  between  twenty 
five  and  thirty  pounds  daily,  ea*  h ;  but  with 
variation  according  to  circumstances.  The  cows 
I  saw  were  apparently  not  in   a  mean   condition, 

and  gave  a  sufficient  quantity  of  good  milk.     I 
10 


74  RANUNCULUS  BULBOSUS. 

was  told  by  tlie  person  whose  cattle  were  feeding 
on  it,  that  he  kept  five  cows  and  one  horse  so 
entirely  on  this  plant  and  what  the  heath  afibrded, 
that  they  had  not  consumed  half  a  ton  of  hay 
throughout  the  whole  year ;  none  being  used 
except  when  the  river  was  frozen  over.  I  exam- 
ined the  whole  parcel  on  which  four  cows  were 
feeding,  in  the  beginning  March,  and  found  the 
whole  consisted  exclusively  of  the  Ranunculus 
fluviatilis  without  any  mixture  of  the  Potamoge- 
ton,  Carex,  Sparganium,  or  other  aquatic  plants. 
In  summer,  however,  it  can  hardly  be  avoided 
but  that  there  must  be  a  mixture  of  some  of  these, 
but  other  plants  are  not  chosen. 

"  This  account  was  confirmed  to  me  by  dififer- 
ent  persons  ;  by  whom  I  was  further  informed 
that  hogs  are  also  fed  with  the  same  plant,  on 
which  they  improve  so  well,  that  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  allow  them  other  sustenance,  till  it  is 
proper  to  put  them  up  to  fatten." 

In  Veterinary  practice  the  Ranunculus  bul- 
bosus  has  been  employed  as  an  external  stimu- 
lant. To  this  purpose  Dr.  Chapman,  in  his 
Therapeutics,  thinks  it  may  be  better  adapted 
than  other  topical  excitants. 


BULBOUS  CROWFOOT.  75" 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Ranunculus  bulbosus,  Linn.  Sp.  pi. — Curtis,  Flora  Lond.  i.  38. 
— Mautyn,  F/ora  rziSitica,  f.  28. — Smith,  Flora  Britt.  591. — Engl. 
Bot.  t.  515. — MicHAUx,  i.  321. — Pursh,  ii.  393. — Ranunculus  tube- 
rosus  magor,  J.  Bauhin,  iii.  417". — Ranunculus  pratensis,  &c,— 
(Eder,  FL  Dan.  t.  515. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Murray,  Apparatus,  Med.  iii.  88. — Krapf.  Ranunculi.  Vienna, 
1 766,— Lewis,  Mat.  Med.  ii.  262.— B.  S.  Barton,  23.— Pulteney, 
Lin.  transactions,  v.  14. — Chapman,  Therapeutics,  ii.  411. 


PLATE  XL VII. 

Fig.  1.  Ranunculus  bulbosus,  the  radical  leaf  of  the  largest  size 

and  more  subdivided  than  common.  ^ 

Fig.  2.  Radical  leaf  of  siualler  size  and  more  common  shape. 
Fig.  3.  Petal  and  nectary. 
Fig.  4.  Two  stamens  enlarged. 
Fig.  5.  Fruit. 


ILLICIUM  FLOEIDANUM, 


Starry  Anise, 

TLdTE  XLVIII, 

J.  HE  same  qualities  which  entitle  the  Lirio- 
dendron  and  Magnolias  to  a  place  among  medi- 
cinal plants,  exist  abundantly  in  the  kirtdred  genus 
of  lllicium.  Ihis  familj  consists  of  fine,  spicy, 
flowering  shrubs,  one  of  which,  the  I.  anisatum, 
growing  in  Eastern  Asia,  derives  its  name  from 
the  similiarity  of  its  flavour  to  that  of  Anise,  a 
quility  which  exists,  though  less  simple,  in  the 
subject  of  the  present  article.  Another  species, 
the  I.  parviflorum,  a  shrub  with  small  yeUowish 
flowers,  first  discovered  by  Michaux  in  the 
mountains  of  Georgia  and  Carolina,  has  so 
exactly  the  flavour  of  the  Sassafras  root,  that  they 
are  not  to  be  distinguished  by  the  taste.  The  I. 
Floridanum  forms  beautiful  thickets  in  the 
country    bordering  on  the  north  of  the  Gulf  of 


a^  .     M 


<:\yi^^Y'^/  //i'        r_yVo  'V ^t'ri:  yZ ^Y  ^Ji' 


;'*.„'«., 


»:t;>r' 


STARRY  ANISE.  7ff 

The  bark  and  leaves  of  the  lUieium  Florida- 
num  are  strongly  impregnated  with  a  spicy, 
aromatic  taste  and  smell,  approaching  that  of  the 
Magnolias  and  Liriodendron,  but  perhaps  more 
similar  to  that  of  some  of  the  pnngent  seeds, 
particularly  Anise  and  Coriander,  between  which 
they  seem  intermediate.  This  aroma  is  preserved 
in  the  distilled  water,  and  fills  the  room  with  its 
fragrance,  while  distillation  is  going  on.  I  was 
not  able  in  my  limited  experiments  to  separate 
any  volatile  oil  or  camphor,  on  one  of  which 
principles,  as  in  similar  cases,  the  aroma  doubtless 
depends. 

An  account  of  this  species  of  lUicium  is 
given,  with  a  figure,  in  the  Philosophical  trans- 
*  actions  for  1770,  by  John  Eilis^v  Esq.  He  says, 
"We  are  indebted  for  the  discovery  of  this 
curious  American  tree  to  a  servant  of  William 
Clifton,  Esq.  of  West  Florida,  who  was  sent  to 
collect  specimens  of  all  the  rarer  plants  by  his 
master  ;  and  in  April  176«'J»,  he  met  with  it  growing 
in  a  swamp  near  Pensacola.  After  this,  in  the 
latter  end  of  January  1705,  Mr.  John  Bartram, 
the  king's  botanist  for  the  Floridas,  discovered  it 
on  the  banks  of  the  river  St.  John,  in  East  Florida, 
as  appears  from  his  description  of  it,  and  a  draw- 
ing of  a  seed-vessel  with  some  of  the  leaves,  sent 


80  iLLICIUai  FLORIDAKUM. 

to  Mr.  Collinson."  Mr.  Bartrani's  description  of  it, 
as  it  appears  in  his  journal  up  the  river  fet.  John, 
published  by  Dr.  Stork,  in  his  account  of  East 
Florida,  is  as  follows.  "Near  here  my  son  found 
a  lovely,  sweet  tree,  with  leaves  like  the  sweet 
bay,  which  smelled  like  Sassafras,  and  produces 
a  strange  kmd  of  seed-pop  ;  but  all  the  seed  was 
shed.  The  severe  frost  had  not  hurt  it ; — some 
of  them  grow  nearly  twenty  feet  high,  a  charming 
bright  evergreen  aromatic.''* 

Of  the  medicinal  properties  of  this  shrub,  I  am 
unable  to  speak  with  the  certainty,  which  might 
have  attended  an  extensive  number  of  trials,  mhde 
with  the  bark  of  full  grown  specimens.  From 
the  evidence  afforded  by  the  bark  and  leaves  of  a 
o-reenhouse  specimen,  and  by  the  analogy  of  other 
species,  and  similar  trees,  I  {-hould  not  feel  much 
hesitation  in  attributing  to  the  lilicium  the  prop- 
erties of  a  tonic-stimulant  and  diaphoretic.  1  have 
at  least  satisfied  myself  that  the  bark  of  a  twig, 
and  three  or  four  of  the  leaves,  produce  no  un- 
pleasant consequence.  Its  bitter  taste  and  aro- 
matic quality  point  out  its  analogy  to  Cascarilla, 
Canella,  Sassafras,  and  other  aromatic  barks, 
which  are  regularly  consumed  in  the  shops.     Its 

*  It  is  very  possible  the  above  description  may  have  been  in- 
tended for  lilicium  parviflorum. 


STARRY  ANISE.  81 

co-species,  the  lllicium  anisatum  of  the  East,  is 
used  as  a  condiment  to  communicate  an  acjreeable 
flavour  to  certain  dishes.  The  Chinese  chew  it 
after  dinner  as  a  stomachic  and  a  SAveetener  of 
the  breath.  In  some  parts  of  the  East  Indies 
the  natives  and  Dutch  mix  it  witli  their  tea  and 
sherbet.  It  is  also  burnt  as  incense  before  their 
idols  hy  some  of  the  oriental  nations,  and  care- 
fully kept  as  an  antidote  to  various  poisons. 

The  beauty  of  both  these  shrubs  renders  them 
desirable  acquisitions  to  collectors  of  plants. 


BOTANICAL  BEFERENCES. 

lllicium  Floridanum,   Link. — Curtis,  Bot.  Mag,  L  439.' — Mi< 
CHAux,  i.  526 — PuRSH,  ii.  3S0. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Ellis,   in  Philosophical   transactions  abridged,  xiii.  Sr.  f.  2. — 

SCHCETF,  91. 


PLATE  XLVIII. 

Fig.  1.  lllicium  Floridanum. 
Fig.  2.  Several  stamens  magnified. 
Fig.  3.  Pistils  magnified. 
Fig.  4.  ti  pistil  separate. 
11 


AEISTOLOCHIA  SEKPENTAEIA. 


Virginia  Snakeroot 

PLATE  XLIX.* 

J-T  is  probable  tbat  this  root,  like  many  other 
articles  now  used  in  medicine,  was  indebted  to  its 
sensible  qualities,  for  its  first  introduction  into 
use.  As  the  name  implies,  its  earliest  medicinal 
character  was  founded  on  a  supposed  antidotal 
power  against  the  bite  of  venomous  serpents. 
Cornutus,  at  the  end  of  his  book  on  the  plants  of 
Canada,  published  at  Paris  in  163.^,  tells  us,  that 
a  root  had  been  sent  to  him  from  "  JSTotha  Jlnglia,^^ 
which  was  called  Serpentaria,  and  in  the  vernac- 
ular tongue  Snagrdel.  This  root  was  a  very  sure 
safeguard  against  the  bite  of  a  huge  serpent  in 
that  country,  which  proved  inevitably  fatal  within 
twelve  hours,  unless  a  good  portion  of  the  antidote 

*  I  am  indebted  to  a  gentleman  in  Georgia  for  the  very  natural 
drawing  of  this  plant. 


A.  :•  4'...  ^■ 


m^.  .^ 


/'L.XUX 


» 


L 


^-         ^    .    •'    ...    •^'  - 


'I,M^ 


m 


iHIA. 


-i 


"> 


lis  root,  like  many   other 

miiebted  ti\!ts 
rro^Iuction  int 
liest  medicin^H 


ouiinil 


drawing  of  this  plant. 


J'L.XLLY 


VIRGINIA  SNAKEROOT.  85" 

two  extremities,  having  its  throat  surrounded  hy 
ail  elevated  edge  or  brim,  and  its  border  expanded 
into  a  broad  irregular  margin,  forming  an  upper 
and  under  lip,  which  are  closed  in  a  triangular 
manner  in  the  bud.  The  anthers  are  twelve  in 
number,  growing  in  pairs  to  the  sides  of  the 
fleshy  style,  which  is  situated  in  the  bottom  of 
the  corolla,  and  covered  by  a  firm,  spreading 
convoluted  stigma,  which  extends  over  the  an- 
thers. The  capsule  is  obovate,  six  angled,  six 
celled,  with  numerous  small  flat  seeds. 

Snakeroot  has  a  penetrating,  rather  agreea- 
ble, resinous  smell,  and  a  pungent  bitter  taste, 
resembling  somewhat  that  of  the  Pinus  Canaden- 
sis, or  Hemlock  spruce.  It  communicates  its 
qualities  both  to  spirit  and  water,  but  most  to  the 
former.  1  subjected  a  quantity  of  the  root  to 
distillation  for  one  hour,  and  obtained  in  the  re- 
ceiver a  whitish  pearly  fluid,  very  strongly  im- 
pregnated with  the  aroma,  but  less  bitter  than 
the  root.  On  standing  twenty  four  hours,  this 
fluid  deposited  round  the  edges  of  the  surface  a 
considerable  number  of  small  white  crystals, 
which  proved  to  be  pure  camphor.  They  were 
inflammable,  fusible  with  a  sudden,  and  volatile 
with  a  gradual  heat.  I  perceived  no  essential 
oil,   though   I)r.  Lewis   informs   us,  that  if  the 


86  ARISTOIiOCHIA  SERPENT  ARIA. 

quantity  of  root,  submitted  to  the  operation,  be 
large,  there  arises  a  small  portion  of  pale  coloured 
essential  oil  of  a  considerable  smell  but  of  no  very 
strong  taste.  There  is  probably  a  portion  of 
resin  present,  as  I  found  that  the  root,  after  hav- 
ing been  boiled  in  water  an  hour,  still  impregnated 
alcohol  so  as  to  cause  a  precipitate  with  water. 
The  bitterness  communicated  to  the  infusion  and 
decoction  appears  to  reside  in  a  variety  of  extrac- 
tive matter. 

Medicinally  considered,  Serpentaria  is  a  tonic, 
diaphoretic,  and  in  certain  cases  an  antispasmodic 
and  anodyne.  It  has  been  abundantly  used  in 
fevers  of  various  descriptions,  and  has  been  com- 
mended by  a  host  of  medical  writers.  There  is 
no  doubt  that  it  has  been  injudiciously  employed 
in  many  cases,  in  fever  attended  with  an  active 
pulse  and  inflammatory  diathesis.  The  early 
stages,  also,  of  febrile  diseases  rarely  admit  the 
exhibition  of  so  decided  a  stimulant,  without 
injury.  But  in  the  advanced  stages  of  fever  and 
those  attended  with  typhoidal  symptoms,  this 
medicine  is  resorted  to  with  great  advantage,  both, 
alone  and  in  combinaton  with  other  tonics  and 
stimulants.  It  is  peculiarly  useful  in  supporting 
the  strength,  and  in  allaying  the  irregular  actions 
which   attend   great  febrile    debility,    such    as 


VIRGINIA  SNAKEROOT.  87 

subsnltus  tendinum,  delirium,  watchfulness,  ^c. 
Its  bitter  ingredients,  and  the  camphor  which  it 
contains,  no  doubt  contribute  to  these  effects. 
It  is  most  advantageously  given  in  combination 
with  bark,  or  with  wine  and  opium. 

Snakeroot  is  a  popular  remedy  in  exanthema- 
tous  disorders  as  a  diaphoretic,  being  given  to 
keep  out  the  eruption,  and  to  restore  it  when  it 
has  receded.  In  the  latter  case  its  use  is  doubt- 
less injudicious,  and  if  it  fails  to  reproduce  the 
eruption,  it  greatly  increases  the  heat,  pain,  and 
restlessness  of  the  patient.  It  is  better  in  cases 
where  the  eruption  has  receded  to  the  disadvan- 
tage of  the  patient,  to  attempt  its  restoration  by 
nauseating  and  saline  diaphoretics,  and  even  by 
a  full  emetic,  than  to  incur  the  risk  of  aggravating 
the  symptoms  by  a  stimulating  regimen. 

Dr.  Chapman,  in  hi;^  Therapeutics,  considers 
the  Serpentaria  as  partaking  the  mixed  qualities 
of  a  stimulant  and  tonic,  and  acting  also  as  a 
diaphoretic  and  diuretic.  It  is  peculiarly  useful 
as  an  auxiliary  to  the  bark.  He  states,  that  one 
.of  the  more  early  uses  of  the  medicine  was  in  the 
cure  of  intermittent  fever.  Whether  alone  it  was 
found  adequate  to  this  purpose,  does  not  clearly 
appear.  "It  was  used  by  Sydenham  in  con- 
junction with  wine,  to  prevent  the  recurrence  of 


88  ARISTOLOCHIA  SERPENTARIA. 

the  paroxysm,  and  from  his  account,  not  without 
advantage.  As  a  general  rule,  he  says,  that  in 
all  cases,  where  it  is  expedient  to  combine  wine 
with  bark,  the  effect  will  be  much  increased  by 
adding  Serpentaria.  The  correctness  of  this 
observation  has  been  fully  confirmed  by  subse- 
quent experience,  and  it  is  now  very  much  the 
practice  to  unite  the  two  articles  in  the  low  states 
of  disease." 

Dr.  Chapman  farther  states,  that  though  it  is 
doubtful  whether  the  Serpentaria,  by  itself,  will 
cure  ague  and  fever,  it  is  certainly  a  powerful 
assistant  to  bark,  not  only  in  increasing  its  effi- 
cacy, but,  v/hat  is  of  great  consequence,  in 
enabling  the  stomach  to  retain  the  medicine. 

To  remittent  fever  he  thinks  this  medicine 
better  adapted.  It  has  here,  in  many  cases,  an 
indisputable  superiority  over  bark,  inasmuch  as 
it  is  rarely  offensive  to  the  stomach,  and  may  be 
given  without  injury,  in  those  obscure  states  of 
the  disease,  where  the  remission  is  not  readily 
tliscernible.  He  prefers,  in  these  cases,  a  com- 
bination of  bark,  snakeroot,  and  soda. 

Snakeroot,  he  informs  us,  is  much  resorted  to 
as  a  popular  remedy  in  the  management  of  the 
secondary  stages  of  pleurisy.  After  bleeding,  it 
is  the  ordinary  practice,  in  many  parts  of  our 


TiRGiNiA  snak:eroot.  89 

eountry,  to  resort  to  a  strong  infusion  of  this 
article  with  a  view  of  exciting  perspiration.  Ca- 
tarrhs, rheumatisms,  and  other  winter  complaints, 
incident  to  rustic  life,  are  managed  in  the  same 
way.  In  that  species  of  pleui'isy  which  is  properly 
enough  designated  hy  the  epithet  bilious,  he  has 
repeatedly  had  occasion  to  recur  to  the  Serpen- 
taria,  and  always  with  more  or  less  utility.  This 
bilious  pleurisy  he  considers  as  having  all  the 
characters  of  pneumonic  inflammation,  with  the 
addition  of  some  of  the  symptoms  incident  to  au- 
tumnal fever,  such  as  headach,  great  gastric  dis- 
tress, and  almost  always  violent  vomitings  of  bile. 
It  differs  also  from  ordinary  pleurisy  in  having  less 
activity  of  inflammation,  and  consequently  in  not 
bearing  the  same  extent  of  depletion.  The  sys- 
tem, indeed,  will  often  be  very  evidently  depressed 
by  one  or  two  bleedmgs.  In  this  case  the  practice 
which  has  been  commonly  pursued  is,  after  the 
removal  of  a  comparatively  small  portion  of  blood, 
and  the  thorough  evacuation  of  the  alimentary 
canal ;  to  administer  very  freely  draughts  of  the 
infusion  of  the  Serpentaria  in  order  to  excite 
copious  diaphoresis. 

Dr.  Chapman  concludes  his  remarks   on   this 
article,  by  stating,  that  it  is   admirably   suited  to 

check  vomitings,  and  to  tranquillize  the  stomach, 

13 


90  ARISTOLOCHIA  SERPENTARIA. 

more  particularly  in  bilious  cases.  It  is  given 
for  this  purpose  in  decoction,  in  the  small  dose 
of  half  an  ounce  or  less  at  a  time,  and  frequently 
repeated. 

The  most  common  form  of  exhibiting  snake- 
root  is  in  infusion,  for  which  purpose  half  an 
ounce  may  be  steeped  in  a  pint  of  boiling  water 
for  two  hours,  in  a  covered  vessel.  Of  this  in- 
fusion an  ounce  or  two  may  be  taken  every  three 
or  four  hours.  Decoction  is  a  less  proper  mode 
of  preparing  this  plant,  as  it  tends  to  dissipate 
the  volatile  parts,  a  portion  of  which  is  detained 
in  a  state  of  mixture  by  the  infusion.  Sometimes 
the  powder  is  given  in  doses  of  from  ten  to  thirty 
grains.  A  tincture  of  snakeroot  is  made  by  di- 
gesting an  ounce  of  the  root  in  a  pound  or  some- 
what less  of  proof  spirit.  The  compound  tincture 
of  bark,  commonly  called  Huxham's  tincture, 
contains  Serpentaria  as  one  of  its  ingredients. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Aristolochia  serpentaria,  Linn.  Sp.  pi. — Walter,  Flor.  Car. 
223. — WooDviLLE,  ii.  291.  t.  106. — ^Michaux,  ii.  162. — Pursh,  ii. 
596. — Pistolochia  sive  Serpentaria  Virginiana,  &c. — Plukenet,  t, 
148./.  5.— Catesby,  Car.  i.  29. 


yiRGINIA  SNAKEROOT.  91 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 


Murray,  ^jpp.  Med.  i.  348. — Cullen,  Mat.  Med.  ii.  85.— Chap= 
MAN,  Therapeutics,  ii.  411. — Lind.  Hot  climates,  104,  254. 


PLATE  XLIX. 

Fig.  1.  Jlristolochia  serpentaria  with  the  jloioer    beginning  t& 

expand. 
Fig.  2.  /Slide  view  of  the  flower  expanded. 
Fig.  3.  Front  of  ditto. 
Fig.  4.  Longitudinal  section  of  the  flower. 
Fig.  5.  Style,  anthers,  and  stigma  magnified^ 
Fig.  6.  Fruit. 


ALETEIS  FAEINOSA. 


Star  Grass. 


PLATE  L. 


JL  KNOW  of  no  plant  which  surpasses  the 
Alteris  farinosa  in  genuine,  intense  and  perma- 
nent bitterness.  Neither  aloes,  gentian,  nor 
quassia  exceed  it  in  the  impression  produced  on 
the  tongue.  It  has,  on  account  of  this  property, 
attracted  the  observation  of  some  medical  men, 
and  may  hereafter  become  an  article  of  more 
consequence  in  the  Materia  Medica.  Although 
the  number  of  trials,  hitherto  made,  are  perhaps 
not  sufficient  to  fix  with  precision  its  exact  char- 
acter, yet  in  a  collection  of  American  medicinal 
vegetables  it  ought  not  to  pass  unnoticed. 

This  plant  grows  in  most  parts  of  the  United 
States  in  fields  and  about  the  edges  of  woods,  and 
flowers  in  June  and  July.  I  have  found  it  near 
Boston  on  the  south,  but  never  to  the  north  of  it. 


JPI.Z.. 


jinjii.ii^:;-n 


/? 


frrY-^j      y^/'/  rv //t^^ijry 


STAR  GRASS,  93 

Its  mode  of  growth  is  not  without  beauty,  the 
leaves  spreading  close  to  the  ground  in  a  radiated 
manner,  like  a  star  ;  while  the  spike  is  supported 
by  an  almost  naked  stalk,  at  a  distance  above 
them.  Tile  names  Star  Grass  and  Blazing  star 
are  generally  given  to  it  in  the  country,  from  the 
peculiar  appearance  of  its  leaves. 

The  genus  Aletris  has  its  corolla  tiihiilar^  sice 
cleft,  wrinkled,  persistent ;  stamens  inserted  into 
the  base  of  the  segments ;  style  triangular,  separa- 
ble into  three  ;  capsule  opening  at  top,  three  celled, 
many  seeded.  The  species  farinosa,  called  alba 
by  Michaux  and  Pursh,  has  its  fiowers  pedicelled, 
oblong-tubular,  somewhat  wrinkled  in  fruit ;  the 
leaves  broad  lanceolate.  Michaux  observes  that 
of  the  species  referred  by  Linnseus  to  this  genus, 
the  A.  farinosa  is  the  only  one  which  strictly 
belongs  to  it.  Class  Heocandria  ;  order  Monogy- 
nia;  natural  orders  Liliacew,  Linn.  Jlsphodeli, 
Juss. 

This  plant  has  a  single  circle  of  radical  leaves, 
which  are  sessile,  nerved,  lanceolate,  and  smooth. 
The  stem  or  scape  is  from  one  to  three  feet  high, 
invested  with  remote  scales,  which  sometimes 
expand  into  small  leaves.  The  flowers  form  a 
slender,  scattered  spike  with  Yevy  short  pedicels 
and  minute  bractes.     Calvx  none.    Corolla  white, 


94/  ALETRIS  FARINOSA. 

of  an  oblong  bell-shape,  divided  at  the  mouth  into 
six  acute,  spreading  segments.  The  outside, 
particularly  as  the  flower  grows  old,  has  a  rough- 
is  h,  wrinkled  or  mealy  appearance,  by  which  the 
specific  name  was  suggested.  The  stamens  are 
short,  inserted  near  the  mouth  of  the  corolla  at 
the  base  of  the  segments.  The  circumstance 
of  their  being  opposite  to  the  segments,  and  not 
alternate  with  them,  affords  the  most  distinguish- 
ing mark  of  this  genus.  The  anthers  are  some- 
what heart-shaped.  Grerm  pyramidal,  half  infe- 
rior, tapering :  style  triangular,  separable  into 
three.  Capsule  invested  with  the  permanent 
corolla,  triangular,  three  celled,  three  valved  at 
top.  Seeds  numerous,  minute,  fixed  to  a  central 
receptacle. 

The  Metvis  aiirea,  of  Michaux  and  Pursh, 
closely  resembles  this  species,  and  it  is  difficult, 
by  comparing  specimens  of  the  two,  to  point  out 
any  permanent  distinctive  marks.  The  leaves  of 
A.  aurea  are  somewhat  narrower  and  the  flowers 
bright  yellow.  Walter  places  it  under  A.  farinosa 
as  a  variety,  and  adds  that  he  could  not  detect  a 
specific  difference  ;  although  the  time  of  flowering 
and  place  of  growth  indicate  that  they  are  dis- 
tinct.    In   sensible  properties  they  are  similar. 


STAR  GRASS.  95 

In  the  London  Philosophical  transactions  for 
1730,  a  plant  is  mentioned  by  Clayton,  which, 
though  not  described  in  botanical  language, 
leaves  little  doubt  that  the  Aletris  farinosa  is 
intended.  He  says,  "  there  is  another  root  of  the 
species  of  hyacinths  ;  the  leaves  are  grass-like, 
but  smooth  and  stiff,  of  a  willow-green  colour, 
and  spread  like  a  star  on  the  ground.  From  the 
middle  shoots  a  tall,  long,  rush-like  stem,  without 
leaves,  near  two  feet  high  ;  on  one  side  grow 
little  white  bell-flowers  one  above  another.  The 
root  is  black  outwardly,  but  brown  within.  It  is 
bitter  and  probably  has  the  same  virtues  as  Little 
Centaury.  Some  call  it  ague  grass,  others  ague 
root^  others  star  grass.'^'' 

The  root  of  the  Aletris  is  highly  resinous, 
and  appears  to  contain  a  portion  of  extractive 
matter.  The  tincture,  made  by  digesting  the 
root  in  alcohol,  is  intensely  bitter,  and  assumes  a 
milky  turbidness  if  water  be  added  to  it.  The 
decoction  is  moderately  bitter,  and  is  not  dis- 
turbed by  alcohol.  With  chalybeate  solutions  it 
undergoes  little  change.  The  tincture  is  to  be 
considered  a  stronger  preparation  than  the  de- 
coction, although  the  latter  has  a  good  share  of 
the  yii'tues  of  the  plant. 


S)6  ALETRIS  1  ARINOSA. 

The  bitterness  of  this  vegetable  has  brought 
it  into  notice  in  the  quality  of  a  tonic  and 
stomachic.  I  have  been  informed  of  its  use  for 
this  purpose  by  physicians  in  diiferent  parts  of 
the  country.  The  most  common  mode  of  its 
employment,  I  understand,  is  by  infusion  or 
decoction.  Pursh  speaks  of  it  as  a  remedy  in  the 
colic,  but  on  what  principle  it  can  operate  in 
relieving  that  disease,  I  am  at  a  loss  to  say.— The 
amount  of  bitter  resin,  which  the  plant  contains, 
led  me  to  suspect  that  it  might  possess  some  of 
the  properties  of  aloes,  to  which  the  plant  is 
botanically  related  ;  but  on  trial,  made  in  several 
instances  with  the  root  in  powder,  a  dose  of  ten 
or  twelve  grains  produced  no  effect  of  this  kind 
whatever.  A  physician,  who  experimented  with 
larger  quantities,  with  a  view  to  test  this  quality, 
informed  me  that  a  dose  of  twenty  grains  occa- 
sioned much  nausea  and  tendency  to  vomit, 
followed  by  some  dizziness  ;  but  that  no  cathartic 
operation  took  place. 

Dr.  Cutler,  in  his  account  of  the  plants  of 
New  England,  informs  us,  that  this  plant  has 
been  considered  useful  in  chronic  rheumatism  ; 
but  does   not  mention  the  dose  or  preparation. 

As  f\ir  as  we  can  sum  up  the  testimony  hith- 
erto offered  respecting  the  general  properties  of 


STAR  GRASS.  97 

this  plant,  it  appears  that  the  infusion  or  decoction 
acts  as  a  tonic  in  small  doses.  Indeed  the  exhi- 
bition of  large  ones  would  he  inconvenient  from 
the  extreme  bitterness  of  the  plant.  The  powder, 
in  small  quantities,  produces  no  immediate  visible 
effect,  except  that  it  has  appeared  to  invigorate 
the  appetite.  In  large  doses  it  disturbs  the 
stomach,  and  possibly  exerts  some  narcotic  effect 
on  the  system.  It  remains  to  be  determined 
whether  these  consequences  are  attributable  to  the 
resin,  which  the  infusion  does  not  dissolve  ;  or 
whether  the  largeness  of  the  dose  is  alone  instru- 
mental. It  is  well  known  that  the  stomach  does 
not  tolerate  even  gentian  or  any  common  bitter 
in  large  a  dose.  And  it  seems  probable  that  if 
the  Aletris  should  ever  increase  in  reputation  as 
a  tonic  bitter,  it  will  only  be  by  its  use  in  limited 
quantities. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Aletris  farinosa,  Linn. — Willd.  iSp.  pi.  ii.  183.-~i?o^.  Mag.  t, 
141 8.— Aletris  alba,  Michaux,  Flora,  i.  189. — Pursh,  i.  225. — 
Hyacinthu«  floridanus  spicatus,  Plukenet,  amalth.  119,  t.  437,  /.  2; 
— Hyacynthus  caiile  nudo,  &c,— -Gronov.  Virg,  38, 

13 


98  AliETRIS  FARINOSA. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Clayton,  Phil.  Trans,  ahr.  viii.  333. — Cutler,  *imerican  ^ead:. 
vol.  i.  435. 


PLATE  L. 

Fig.  1.  Mefris  farinosa. 

Fig.  2.  Corolla  opened  to  shew  the  insertion  of  the  stamens. 

Fig.  3.  Stamen  magnified. 

Fig.  4.  Fistil  magnified. 


^  ^/?Y>f/r^  r//-//  r/i 


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■"►  -'-. 

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2/(^r/r>  r/f//  r/r  ^v^    *^f  ^-  r/Mffm 


AMERICAN 

MEDICAL  BOTANY, 


RHODODENDRON  MAXIMUM. 

American  'Rose  hay. 

PLATE  LL 

XHE  scenery  of  the  American  forest  is  dis- 
tinguished not  less  by  the  greatness  of  its  natural 
features,  the  imposing  and  picturesque  appearance 
of  its  mountains,  its  rocky  precipices,  its  broad 
streams  and  lakes  ;  than  it  is  by  the  magnificent 
clothing  of  wild  shrubs  and  trees,  the  uncommon 
beauty  of  which,  gives  to  rough  and  inaccessible 
spots  a  richness,  that  cultivation  can  hardly  imi- 
tate. The  Kalmia,  described  in  our  first  volume, 
and  the  Rhododendron  of  the  present  article, 
which  are  reared  with  care  and  difficulty  aa 
ornaments  of  European  gardens  and  pleasure 
grounds,  can  be  seen  in  perfection  no  where  but 
in  the  uncultivated  recesses  of  our  own  continent* 


lOS  RHODODENDRON  MAXIMUM. 

Near  the  summits  of  mountains,  on  the  hanks  of 
torrents  and  deep  ravines,  from  which  rivers  take 
their  rise,  where  the  deep   shade,   moist  soil  and 
dashing  water,  preserve  the  atmosphere  in  a  state 
of  perpetual  humidity  ;  these  shrubs,  in  luxuriant 
size  and  vigour,  are  seen  to  eover  tracts  of  great 
extent,    at   one    season  presenting   an  unbroken 
landscape   of  gorgeous   flowers,    and    at   another 
w  ith  their  evergreen  foliage  forming  an  impene- 
trable shelter  for  the  wild   animals  of  the  forest. 
Of  the   Rhododendron   maximum,  Mr.  Pursli 
has     designated     three    varieties.      These     are, 
1.  The    Red,   which    inhabits    swamps    and   the 
borders  of  mountain  lakes  from  Canada  to  Caro- 
lina ;  2.  The  White,  found  in  the  swamps  of  New 
Jersey  and  Delaware  ;    3.   The   Purple,    on   the 
highest   mountains    of    Virginia     and    Carolina. 
This   last   variety   is    represented    as    peculiarly 
magnificent,  growing  to  the  size  of  a  small  tree, 
having   its    trunk  eighteen  inches  and  more  in 
diameter,   and  its   foliage  triple   the  size  of  any 
other  species. 

The  first  variety  of  this  elegant  shrub  grows 
abundantly  on  the  banks  of  Charles  river,  a  dozen 
or  fifteen  miles  from  Boston.  It  even  supports 
the  winter  as  far  north  as  the  state  of  Maine,  and 
was  observed,  by  Dr.  Eaton,   growing  plentifully 


AMERICAN  ROSE  BAY.  105 

certainly  a  poison.'' — The  result  of  my  own 
attention  to  this  shrub  does  not  give  reason  for 
attaching  to  it  suspicions  of  possessing  a  very 
deleterious  nature.  IN^one  of  its  external  charac- 
ters would  lead  to  apprehensions  of  this  sort, 
particularly  the  taste,  which  is  simply  astringent 
and  herbaceous,  and  much  like  that  of  a  common 
oak  leaf.  I  know  not  what  quantity  might  prove 
injurious,  but  under  the  conviction  that  the  plant 
was  not  particularly  dangerous,  I  have  swallowed 
a  green  leaf  of  the  middle  size,  so  large  that  it 
required  some  resolution  to  masticate  so  unpala- 
table a  morsel,  but  have  found  no  ill  effect  what- 
ever to  result  from  it. 

Medicinally  considered,  I  think  it  must  be 
ranked  among  the  astringents,  a  place  which  both 
its  sensible  and  chemical  properties  entitle  it  to 
hold.  If  it  have  any  narcotic  powers,  they  will 
probably  be  developed  only  by  an  extraordinary 
dose,  which  few  persons  will  be  likely  to  put  to 
the  test 


106  RHODODENDRON  MAXIMUM. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Rhododendron  maximum,  Willd.  Sp.  pi.  ii.  606. — Bot.  Mag.  t. 
951. —Schmidt,  Arb.  t  121.— Pursh,  i.  297.— Michaux,  .A^.  Jl. 
Sylva,  t.  67. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 

B.  S.  Barton,  Collections,  i.  18. 

PLATE  LI. 

Fig.  1.  .4  branch  of  Rhododendron  niaccimum  in  fiower  and  in 

bud. 
Fig.  2.  Calyx  and  style. 
Fia;.  3.  Stamen* 


YrrY/r^////rt' 


I 


^  ''^^ 


^K^l 


i'.  '  T    :.s    --^    .B-  ,;#  ,  ■ 


1)»  .'^Jf. 


EUPHOEBIA  IPECACUANHA. 


Ipecacuanha  spurge. 


PLATE  LIL 


JJ  ROM  the  specific  name  given  to  this  vege- 
table we  infer,  that  befoi-e  the  true  origin  of  the 
officinal  ipecacuanha  was  known,  this  plant, 
among  others,  was  for  a  time  considered  the 
source  of  that  drug.  The  Pharmacopceia  Danica 
was  one  of  the  works  in  which  this  reference  was 
made,  and  Linnaeus  undoubtedly  paid  some 
respect  to  the  opinion  in  assigning  the  specific 
name. 

Nearly  all  the  species  of  Euphorbia  appear  to 
possess  the  power  of  acting  with  violence  on  the 
stomach  and  alimentary  canal.  This  power 
particularly  resides  in  a  milky  juice  which  they 
exude  on  being  wounded.  Of  the  species  which 
have  been  most  extensively  submitted  to  experi- 
ment are  Euphorbia  officinarum,  esula,  heliosco- 
15 


108        EUPHORBIA  IPECACUANHA. 

pia,  dalcis,  peplus,  exigua,  Cyparissias,  palustris, 
and  Cliaracias.  Professor  Murray  has  collected 
details  respecting  the  operation  of  most  of  these, 
from  various  medical  authorities.  It  appears 
that  they  all  excite  vomiting  or  purging,  and  in 
large  doses  hring  on  violent  burning  pains  of  the 
stomach  and  bowels,  heat  and  thirst,  followed  by 
great  prostration  of  strength,  cold  sweats,  and  in 
some  instance,  death.  In  small  quantities,  how- 
ever, they  have  been  used  as  medicines  with 
safety,  although  some  of  them  are  uncertain  in 
regard  to  their  dose,  and  difficult  to  manage  in 
their  operation.   [JVofe  B.] 

The  genus  Euphorbia  comprises  a  vast  num- 
ber of  species,  of  different  habit,  size  and  mode 
of  growth.  The  flowers  are  frequently  minute, 
very  complex,  and  difficult  of  examination.  They 
have  a  calyciform  involiicriim  with  four  or  Jive 
segments  like  petals,  and  the  same  niimher  of 
interior  segments  like  nectaries.  Stamens  twelve 
or  more.  Filaments  articulated.  Fertile  fower 
solitary,  stipitate,  naked.  Styles  three,  hifid. 
Capsule  three  seedet?.— The  species  Ipecacuanha 
is  procumhent,  with  opposite,  ohovate,  ohlong  or 
linear  leaves ;  peduncles  axillary,  one  flowered, 
elongated. 


IPECACUANHA  SPURGE.  HI 

gives  no  precipitate  with  gelatin  or  sulphate  of 
iron.  With  alcohol  it  gave  out  a  white  precipi- 
tate which  rendered  the  solution  turbid,  and 
subsided  in  flocks.  The  cold  infusion  exhibited 
the  same  phenomena  in  a  smaller  degree.  From 
these  appearances  we  may  infer  that  the  root 
contains  caoutchouc,  resin,  mucus  and  probably 
fsBcula. 

The  Euphorbia  ipecacuanha  has  long  been 
known  to  possess  the  same  property,  which  is  so 
frequent  in  its  genus,  of  exciting  the  stomach 
powerfully  as  an  emetic.  The  appropriation  of 
its  specific  name  seems  even  to  imply  that  such 
a  property  had  been  recognised  in  this  species 
in  a  more  eminent  degree,  than  in  the  rest.  It 
does  not  appear,  however,  tliat  it  has  ever  con- 
tinued long  in  use,  this  being  prevented,  proba- 
bly, by  the  suspicious  character  of  the  race  of 
plants  to  which  it  belongs.  The  late  Dr.  Barton 
mentions  this  vegetable  among  his  indigenous 
emetics,  but  considers  it  too  violent  and  uncer- 
tain to  be  depended  on  as  a  safe  medicine. 

Within  a  few  years  the  plant  has  been 
attended  to  by  some  medical  gentlemen  in 
Philadelphia,  who  report  more  favourably  of  its 
powers  and  mode  of  operation ;  and  consider  it 
as  a  safe,  certain  and  manageable  emetic,  applica- 


lis        EUPHORBIA  IPECACUANHA. 

ble  to  most  of  the  cases  in  which  medicines  of 
this  kind  are  called  for. 

Being  desirous  to  obtain  personal  knowledge 
of  the  medicinal  character  of  this  vegetable,  I 
instituted  trials  with  different  parcels  of  the  dried 
root,  some  of  which  were  gathered  by  myself,  in 
flower,  near  Philadelphia,  and  the  rest  sent  me 
by    friends    from    Baltimore    and    Washington. 
Portions  of  these  roots  were  given  to  a  variety  of 
patients    in   the   Dispensary  and  Almshouse  by 
myself  and  by  other  physicians,  who  have  obliged 
me  by  communicating  the  results  of  their  obser- 
vations.     These   experiments   have   led    to   the 
conclusion  that   the   Euphorbia   ipecacuanha  in 
doses  of  from   ten  to  twenty  grains  is  both  aa 
emetic  and  cathartic  ;  that  it  is  more  active  than 
ipecacuanha  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  grains 
administered ;    that  in  small  doses    it  operates 
with  as  much  ease  as  most  emetics,  in  a  majority 
of  instances.     If  it  fails,  however,  at  first,  it  is  not 
so  safely  repeated  as  the   other  emetics   in  com- 
mon use.     Given  in  large  doses  it  excites   active 
and  long  continued  vomiting,  attended  with  a  sense 
of  heat,  vertigo,  indistinct  vision,  and  prostration  of 
strength.     I  have  not  ventured  upon  any  large 
dose  myself,  but  have  been  informed,  that  such 
is  the  effect^  by  those  who  have  given  the  root  in 


IPECACUANHA  SPURGE.  113 

doses  of  two  scruples  and  upwards.  The  plant 
appears  to  differ  from  the  South  American  Ipe- 
cacuanha in  having  the  degree  of  its  operation 
proportionate  to  the  quantity  taken  ;  the  process 
of  vomiting  not  being  checked  by  the  powder 
being  thrown  off  of  the  stomachj  as  frequently 
happens,  when  common  Ipecac  is  given  in  large 
doses. 

At  my  request.  Dr.  James  McKeen  made  this 
plant  and  another  species,  E.  corollata,  the  sub- 
jects of  an  inaugural  dissertation  at  Harvard 
University,  in  1830.  As  his  observations  have 
been  made  with  some  care,  and  illustrate  very 
fairly  the  action  of  the  medicine,  I  insert  the 
principal  cases  from  his  manuscript. 

"  Case  I.  The  first  experiment,"  he  observes, 
"  made  with  this  species  of  the  Euphorbia  was 
upon  a  man  of  intemperate  habits,  about  twenty 
seven  years  of  age,  and  who  appeared  to  be  a 
candidate  for  Delirium  Tremens.  I  gave  him 
ten  grains.  He  told  me  that  it  always  required 
powerful  doses  of  medicine  to  produce  any  effects 
upon  his  stomach  or  bowels,  but  as  I  was  then  a 
stranger  to  the  powers  of  the  Euphorbia  ipecacu- 
anha, it  was  thought  prudent  not  to  hazard  a 
large  quantity  until  something  had  been  ascer- 
tained of  its   strength.      ¥»  lien  I   called  in  the 


114^^  EUPHORBIA  IPECACUANHA. 

morning  after  it  was  taken,  I  learned  that  the 
medicine  had  produced  a  gentle  purging,  pre- 
ceded by  a  considerable  degree  of  nausea,  but 
that  there  had  been  no  vomiting. 

"  Case  II.  The  next  fair  opportunity  which 
occurred  for  experiment  was  in  the  case  of  a 
female  about  thirty  seven  years  of  age.  This 
woman,  for  a  considerable  portion  of  her  life,  had 
suffered  from  syphilis  ;  nothing  remained  now, 
however,  specifically  of  this  kind,  excepting  the 
marked  effects  of  a  constitution  shattered  by 
disease.  I  gave  her  at  first  ten  grains  of  the 
Euphorbia  ipecacuanha,  and  in  twenty  minutes, 
no  signs  of  vomiting  occurring,  I  gave  her  eight 
grains  more,  and  kept  adding  to  the  quantity, 
which  she  had  taken,  until  it  amounted  in  the 
whole  to  forty  grains.  I  remained  by  this  patient 
until  vomiting  commenced,  which  was  precisely 
thirty  five  minutes  after  the  exhibition  of  the  first 
ten  grains.  As  the  influence  of  the  mind,  in 
contemplating  the  effects  of  an  emetic,  will  often 
induce  its  more  speedy  operation,  I  diverted  the 
patient's  attention  as  much  as  possible,  that  no 
consequences  might  ensue,  but  such  as  were 
produced  by  the  specific  action  of  the  medicine. 
As  soon  as  I  ascertained  that  this  Euphorbia- 
ipecacuanha    was    likely    to    produce    effectual 


IPECACUANHA  SPURGE,  H.^ 

Vomiting,  I  left  the  house.  About  thirty  hours 
afterwards  I  called  to  see  tliis  patient,  and  with 
much  surprise  found  that  the  quantity  I  had 
given  her  had  continued  to  operate  by  emesis 
and  catharsis  ever  since.  She  was,  however, 
very  little  exhausted,  and  there  was  nothing  of 
cramp  either  on  the  stomach  or  extremities  which 
so  often  distress  those  who  are  too  severely 
vomited.  About  this  time  there  was  a  cessation 
of  vomiting  without  the  assistance  of  remedies. 
Two  days  afterwards  this  woman  told  me  she  had 
not  been  as  well  as  she  then  was  for  a  number 
of  years.  The  powerful  vomiting  produced  a 
considerable  degree  of  dizziness,  but  this  went 
off  in  the  course  of  twenty  four  hours.  I  had 
quite  despaired  of  vomiting  this  patient  with  tlie 
Euphorbia  ipecacuanha.  In  no  instance  after- 
wards was  this  medicine  more  than  half  as  long 
in  producing  vomiting  as  it  was  in  this  case. 

Case  III.  A  gu4  of  about  eighteen  years  of 
age,  whose  manner  of  living  was  similar  to  that 
of  the  person  mentioned  in  the  preceding  case, 
applied  to  me  for  an  emetic  ;  I  gave  her  thirty 
grains  of  the  Euphorbia  ipecacuanha,  and  told 
her  to  take  half  of  this  quantity,  and  if  it  did  not 
operate  in  half  an  hour,  she  might  take  the  re- 
mainder. Contrary  to  my  injunctions  she  took 
16 


116  EUPHORBIA  IPECACUANHA. 

the  whole  at  a  single  draught.  In  fifteen  minutes 
her  attendants  told  me  she  began  to  vomit,  and 
continued  to  throw  up,  at  intervals,  smartly  for 
five  hours,  and  was  purged  seven  or  eight  hours 
more.  For  some  time  after  this  she  complained 
much  of  dizziness. 

Case  IV.  As  I  had  found,  in  the  first  trial, 
that  ten  grains  of  the  Euphorbia  ipecacuanha 
failed  to  produce  vomiting,  I  tried  the  same 
dose  upon  another  subject,  which  was  a  woman 
of  about  forty  eight  years  of  age,  to  determine  if 
so  small  a  quantity  would  produce  vomiting. 
In  about  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  after  the 
medicine  was  received  into  the  stomach,  it  began 
to  operate.  After  she  had  vomited  three  times, 
it  commenced  purging,  and  produced  three  or 
four  evacuations.  This  woman  did  not  complain 
of  any  dizziness,  as  those  did  in  the  two  preced- 
ing cases. 

Case  V.  A  woman  about  thirty  one  years  of 
age  took  fifteen  grains  of  the  Euphorbia  ipecacu- 
anha ;  in  seventeen  minutes  it  began  to  operate, 
and  vomited  the  patient  every  few  minutes,  until 
the  operation  amounted  to  five  or  six  times,  and 
afterwards  a  moderate  purging  ensued.  The 
operation,  in  this  case,  was  more  satisfactory  than 
any  preceding  ones,  as  it  effectually  evacuated 


IPECACUANHA  SPURGE.  117 

the  stomach  and  bowels,  without  a  too  long  con- 
tinuance of  the  vomiting'. 

Case  YI.  A  man  of  forty  years  of  age  was 
seized  with  symptoms  of  fever.  Four  grains  ctf 
sulphate  of  copper  and  twelve  of  common  ipecac 
were  given.  This  dose  produced  no  emetic 
operation,  but  occasioned  violent  purging.  Forty 
eight  hours  after,  I  gave  him  twenty  grains  of 
Euphorbia  ipecacuanha,  in  powder,  which  pro- 
duced very  effectual  evacuations  from  the  stomach, 
vomiting  him  eight  or  nine  times ;  after  which 
he  had  one  or  two  alvine  discharges. 

Case  VII.  In  one  instance,  for  experiment,  I 
gave  four  grains  of  this  plant  j  but  it  neither 
affected  the  stomach  nor  bowels,  nor  the  feelings 
of  the  patient,  nor  his  pulse." 

From  what  is  now  known  respecting  the 
Euphorbia  ipecacuanha,  we  are  justified  in  con- 
sidering it  an  active  emetic,  and,  if  prudently 
administered,  more  safe  than  a  majority  of  the 
species  of  its  genus.  It  wants,  however,  the 
peculiar  mildness  of  the  officinal  Ipecacuanha, 
which,  in  cases  of  slow  operation,  permits  the 
dose  to  be  accumulated  by  repetition,  until  its 
due  effect  takes  place,  without  danger  of  excessive 
violence  in  the  length  and  degree  of  evacuation, 
and   without   an    injurious    impression    on    the 


118  EUPHORBIA  IPECACUANHA, 

nervous  system.  This,  indeed,  appears  to  be  the 
common  defect  of  the  active  North  American 
emetics  hitherto  examined.  And  until  a  more 
exteusive  examination  has  brought  to  light  new 
substances  of  this  class,  or  better  defined  the 
modes  of  preparation  and  use  of  those  already 
known,  we  cannot  wish  that  the  South  American 
drug  should  be  diminished  in  our  markets,  or 
less  familiar  to  our  physicians. 

BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Euphorbia  Ipecacuanha,  Linn.  Sp.  pi. — Willd.  ii.  900.— Mi- 
CHAux,  Flora,  ii.  212. — Pursh,  ii.  606. — Botanical  Magazine,  t, 
1494. — Euphorbia  inermis,  &c. — Gronovius,  Virg.  74. — Tithymalus 
flore  minimo  herbaceo  ? — Clayton,  Phil,  trans,  abr.  viii.  331. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

ScH«EPF,  Mat.  Med.  74.— B.  S.  Barton,  Coll.  26 W.  P.  C^ 

Barton,  Teg.  Mat.  Med.  vol.  i. 


PLATE  LII. 

Fig.  1.  Euphorbia  Ipecacuanha. 

Fig.  2,  5,  4,  5.  Different  forms  and  sizes  of  tfie  leaf  observed 

in  individuals  of  this  species. 
Fig.  6.  Red  variety  of  the  leaves. 
Fig.  7.  Calyx. 

Fig.  8.  Calyoe  opened,  with  five  of  the  stamens  expanded} 
Fig.  9.  Ji  perfect  flower. 
Tig.  10.  Styles  and  stigmas  magnified'. 


J*I,  JJJf 


(:'/^A//-^z^i-a  e^ny/^xAz 


ulnnin  kSmUA- 


^  :m  /€. 


4  '.B-J'^^  .:,'.  , 


SB- 


EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA. 


Large  jlowering  spurge. 

PLATE  LIIL 

Jln  point  of  stature  and  the  siiewy  appear- 
ance of  its   flowers,  this   species  of  Euphorbia 
differs  eminently  from  that  described  in  the  last 
article.     In  the   common   features,   however,   of 
the  genus,  such  as  its  lactescence,  its  taste,  and 
its  medicinal  powers  j    the  consanguinity  of  the 
two  plants  evidently  appears.     I  am   not  aware 
that  this  species  has  been  much  known  for  its 
operative  qualities,  until   within   a   very   recent 
period.     The  indians   were,  indeed,    acquainted 
with  the  medicinal  properties  of  more  than  one 
species  of  Euphorbia.     They  doubtless  made  use 
of  the  E.  ipecacuanha,  and  not  impossibly  of  the 
present  species  also.     In  Mr.  Clayton's  letter  to 
Dr.  Grew,  contained  in  the  Transactions  of  the 
Royal  society  for  1730;  and  which  we  have  noticed 


1^0  EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA. 

in  speaking  of  Aletris  farinosa,  the  writer  states, 
that  the  Aborigines  made  use  of  "  the  roots  of 
Tjthymal,  of  which  there  are  two  sorts,  the  one 
Jlore  minimo  herbaceo,  the  other  floi^e  albo.  The 
flower  of  this  last,"  he  says,  "  is  small,  but  large 
in  comparison  with  the  other.  They  are  repenteSf 
and  grow  in  old  manured  grounds.  They  chiefly 
make  use  of  the  latter  of  these,  and  it  is  a  most 
excellent  purge,  though  it  sometimes  vomits.  It 
is  quick  but  moderate  in  its  effect,  and  has  this  pe- 
culiarity, that  it  opens  the  body,  when  other  more 
violent  purgatives  will  not  move  it."  We  might 
safely  conclude  that  the  white  flowering  species, 
here  noticed,  is  the  Euphorbia  corollata,  were  it 
not  for  the  term  repentes  applied  to  both  plants. 
It  is  not  improbable  that  in  this  respect,  the 
writer  might  have  been  misinformed. 

Pursh  informs  us  that  Euphorbia  corollata 
grows  in  dry  fields  from  Canada  to  Carolina.  1/ 
have  never  met  with  it  north  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  drawing  which  illustrates  our  description  is 
from  a  specimen  cultivated  in  the  Botanic  garden 
at  Cambridge.  It  is  a  tall,  erect  plant,  from 
one  to  five  feet  in  height,  resembling,  at  a  dis- 
tance, some  of  the  white  flowering  corymbiferw. 
It  begins  to  flower  in  June,  but  is  not  fully  ex- 
panded   until    July    or    August.       Its    specific 


LARGE  FLOWERING  SPURGE.  123 

of  facts  relating  to  its  properties.  Dr.  Z.  states 
that  this  plant  is  fjuite  common  in  some  parts  of 
the  state  of  Virginia.  In  some  districts  of  Mary- 
land, and  more  particularly  in  Anne  Arundel 
county,  it  grows  in  the  greatest  abundance,  where 
it  is  recognised  hj  the  common  appellations  of 
Milkweed,  Snake's  milk,  Ipecacuanha  and  Indian. 
Physic.  It  delights  in  a  poor,  dry,  and  sandy 
soil.  It  is  seldom  or  never  found  growing  in 
the  woods,  hut  in  fields  that  are  cultivated  every 
two  or  three  years.  The  farmers  have  frequently 
told  him  that  it  is  very  hurtful  to  small  grain, 
>vhen  it  grows  in  great  quantities,  and  the  com- 
mon means  that  are  made  use  of,  such  as  plough- 
ing and  harrowing,  in  order  to  kill  bluegrass^ 
have  the  effect  of  increasing  the  quantity  and 
rapid  growth  of  this  plant.  It  is  never  eaten  by 
animals.  The  root  is  sometimes  used  as  an 
emetic  by  the  country  people  ;  and  it  is  esteemed 
in  the  cure  of  dropsy.  The  stalks,  which  arise 
from  the  common  trunk  of  the  root,  are  some- 
times as  many  as  thirty,  and  from  this  down  to 
a  single  one.  The  largest  roots,  which  he  recol- 
lects seeing,  measured  from  an  inch  to  two 
inches  and  a  half  in  circumference.  He  has 
been  in  the  habit  of  using  the   Euphorbia  corol- 

lata,  for  some  time  past  in  practice,  as  an  emetic^ 

17 


134}  EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA. 

ill  the  place  of  the  Ipecacuanha  of  the  shops  ^ 
and  thinks  it  in  no  respect  inferior  to  this  article. 
Combined  with  opium  and  the  Sulph.  potassse 
in  the  proportions  of  the  Pulv.  doveri,  he  has 
found  it  to  be  a  valuable  diaphoretic.  The  con- 
tused root,  in  its  recent  state,  will  excite  inflam- 
mation and  vesication,  when  applied  to  any  part 
of  the  body  ;  which  generally  goes  oif  in  the  course 
of  four  or  five  days  whithout  being  attended  with 
any  inconvenience  whatever.  He  was  led  to 
give  it  a  number  of  trials  in  this  way  from  the 
circumstance  of  his  face  becoming  considerably 
inflamed  after  having  iiandled  large  quantities  of 
the  root.  As  an  expectorant,  this  plant,  he  says, 
is  deserving  of  the  attention  of  practitioners. 

Dr.  Z.  has  furnished  me  with  minutes  of 
seventeen  cases,  in  which  he  administered  the 
powdered  root  of  this  plant  in  doses  of  fi'om  ten 
to  twenty  grains.  In  all  of  these  it  operated  by 
vomiting,  with  the  exception  of  two  cases,  where 
it  produced  nausea,  followed  by  catharsis.  Hav- 
ing tried  a  variety  of  preparations,  he  states,  that 
the  extract  may  be  given  in  doses  of  from  five  to 
eight  grains  ;  the  wine  prepared  in  the  same  way 
as  Vinum  ipecacuanha,  in  dose  of  an  ounce  or 
an  ounce  and  an  half.  Of  the  root  in  powder 
from  fifteen  to  twenty  grains  was  found  a  proper 


LARGE  FLOWERING  SPURGE.  1^5 

emetic.  He  considers  this  medicine  as  liaving'  a 
peculiar  advantage  in  possessing  no  unpleasant 
taste ;  being  only  followed  by  a  sense  of  heat  in 
a  few  minutes  after  it  is  taken.  But  this  is  by  no 
means  lasting,  nor  does  it  produce  any  material 
uneasiness. 

In  some  experiments,  to  determine  the  solu- 
ble portions  of  this  root,  Dr.  Z.  found  that  two 
thousand  one  hundred  and  sixty  grains  of  the 
recent  root  afforded  one  hundred  and  two  grains 
of  watery  extract ;  and  a  like  quantity  by  diges- 
tion in  alcohol  gave  one  hundred  and  twenty 
three  grains  of  alcoholic  extract.  He  did  not 
observe  any  difference  in  the  activity  of  these  two 
extracts. 

Dr.  McKeen,  v*^hose  Dissertation  on  the 
species  of  Euphorbia  has  been  already  cited  in 
the  last  article,  has  detailed  the  circumstances  of 
twelve  cases,  in  which  he  administered  the 
Euphorbia  coroUata.  His  experiments  differ 
from  those  of  Dr.  Zollickoffer,  in  the  quantity  of 
the  root  used,  being  always  smaller.  The  doses, 
which  he  gave,  were  from  three  to  twelve  grains 
of  the  powder.  In  every  instance  the  medicine 
operated  as  a  cathartic.  In  most  of  the  cases 
nausea  was  produced,  but  in  three  only,  out  of 
the  whole  number,  it  was  followed  by  vomitings 


4^6  EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA. 

In  one  case  a  dose  of  three  grains  proved  actively 
cathartic  in  four  hours.  In  another  five  grains 
produced  vomiting.  In  a  third  no  effect  was 
experienced  from  twelve  grains,  except  that  of  a 
moderate  laxative.  In  one  instance  twenty  grains 
"v^ere  given,  which  produced  vomiting  three  times, 
followed  by  about  twenty  alvine  evacuations. 

I  have  placed  portions  of  this  plant  in  the 
hands  of  several  practitioners  and  medical  stu- 
dents, with  a  request  to  be  informed  of  the  effect, 
when  suitable  opportunities  for  its  exhibition  had 
occurred.  In  a  majority  of  the  instances  I  have 
been  told,  that  a  cathartic  operation  had  followed 
its  use  ;  and  sometimes,  though  less  frequently, 
an  emetic.     It  rarely  has  proved  inactive. 

The  Euphorbia  corollata  must  undoubtedly 
be  ranked  among  the  more  efficient  medicines  of 
the  evacuating  class.  Dr.  McKeen  concludes, 
from  his  experiments,  that  it  is  a  very  certain 
purgative,  possessing,  he  thinks,  about  double 
the  strength  of  jalap.  It  exerts  its  cathartic 
efficacy  in  doses  of  less  than  ten  grains.  If  given 
to  the  amount  of  fifteen  or  twenty  grains,  it  is 
very  sure  to  prove  emetic  ;  the  proportion  of  its 
failures,  being  not  greater  than  occurs  in  the  use 
of  other  emetic  medicines.  The  only  inconven- 
iences  which  have   come  to  my  knowledge,  as 


liARGE  FLOWERING  SPURGE.  127 

attending  it,  are,  that  if  given  in  small  doses,  for 
a  purgative,  it  is  apt  to  produce  nausea ;  while  in 
the  large  doses  suitable  for  an  emetic,  it  some- 
times has  induced  a  degree  of  hypercatharsis. 
But  it  must  he  observed,  that  many  of  the  medi- 
cines, in  common  use,  may  occasion  similar 
consequences  in  jtersons  of  peculiar  habit  and 
irritable  fibre.  Future  experiment  will,  no  dc«ubt, 
determine  whether  the  Euphorbia  corollata  is 
any  more  irregular  and  unmanageable  than  other 
medicines  of  its  kind,  or  whether  it  is  entitled  to 
a  permanent  and  useful  place  in  the  Materia 
Medica. 

Many,  and  perhaps  all  the  species  of  Euphor- 
bia are  powerful  external  stimulants.  Sover.J 
are  used  as  a  sort  of  caustic  to  destroy  warts. 
The  gum,  called  Euphorbium,  produced  by  the 
Euphorbia  officinarum,  is  a  strong  vesicatory, 
employed  by  farriers,  and  sometimes  used  to 
adulterate  the  plaister  of  Cantharides.  The 
blistering  power  of  E.  corollata  has  been  stated 
by  Dr.  Zollickoffer.  This  active  genus  of  plants 
deserves  a  thorough  investigation  with  a  view  to 
this  particular  property,  to  determine  whether 
they  are  safe  and  manageable  vesications,  or 
virulent  and  uncertain. 


138  EUPHORBIA  COROLLATA* 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 


Euphorbia  corollata,  Linn. — Willd.  ii.  916.— Michaux,  ii.  210ir 
— PuRSH,  ii.  607. — Tithymalus  marianus,  &c. — Plukenet,  Mant. 
182.  t.  446./.  2. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Clayton,  Philosophical  transactions  abridged,  viii.  SSL — Zol- 
EiCKOFFER,  Materia  Medica.  Baltimore,  1819. 


PLATE  LIII. 

Fig.  1.  Euphorbia  corollata,  the  top  of  a  plant  raiJier  below  ilv& 

common  size. 
Fig.  2.  Barren  fioiver. 
Fig.  3.  Calyx  not  fully  expanded. 
Fig.  4.  Stamen. 
Fig.  5.  Fertile  flower. 


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POLYGALA  RUBELLA. 


Bitter  Poly  gala. 

FLATE  LIV. 

A  HIS  plant  is  interesting  from  the  curious 
manner  in  which  a  part  of  the  fruit  is  produced, 
hy  a  kind  of  imperfect  flower  growing  close  to, 
and  in  some  instances  under,  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  It  is  not  the  only  species  of  the  Polygala 
which  has  this  peculiarity.  I  have  often  observed 
little  shoots  at  the  root  of  P.  paucifolia,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  of  the  genvis,  bearing  apterous 
flowers  and  subterranean  fruit,  precisely  like 
those  represented  in  our  plate.  The  P.  polygama. 
of  Waller  and  Pursh,  if,  indeed,  it  is  a  distinct 
species,  has  the  same  remarkable  mode  of  growth. 
It  is  difficult  to  imagine  what  end  is  attained  by 
nature  in  tiiis  singular  arrangement,  by  whicli  a 
part  of  the  seeds  are  ripened  in  the  sun,  wiiile 
the  rest,  like  the  fruit  of  Arachis  hypogsea,  is 


130  POLYGAIiA  RUBELLA. 

buried  from  the  light.  To  the  eye  there  is  no 
difference  between  seeds  taken  from  the  upper  or 
lower  racemes  of  the  plant.  It  would  be  Avorth 
while  to  ascertain  if  the  two  will  vegetate  equally 
well. 

The  genus  is  marked  by  a  calya^  ^ffi'^^  leaves, 
two  of  which  are  wing-like  and  coloured.  Capsule 
obcordate,  two  celled  and  two  valved.  The  spe- 
cies rubella  has  its  stems  simple ;  leaves  linear- 
ohlong,  mucronated  ;  flowers  racemed,  those  of  the 
stem  tvinged,  those  of  the  root  apterous. 

Class    Biadelphia,    order    Octandria;    natural 
orders  Lomentacew,  Linn.  Pediciilares,  Juss. 

The  Poly  gala  rubella,  here  described,  is  the 
plant  designated  by  that  name  in  Muhlenberg's 
catalogue,  as  £  have  formerly  learnt  from  the 
author  himself.  There  is  little  doubt  that  Willde- 
now's  plant  is  the  same,  described  from  an 
imperfect  specimen.  It  is  found  in  dry,  sandy, 
or  gravelly  soils  in  many  parts  of  the  United 
States,  and  flowers  in  June  and  July. 

Eoot  somewhat  fusiform,  perennial,  branch- 
ing. Stems  numerous,  ascending,  smooth,  angu- 
lar, simple.  Leaves  scattered,  smooth,  the  lower 
ones  obovate,  smaller;  the  upper  ones  linear- 
lanceolate,  obtuse,  mucronated,  sessile.  Flowers 
purple,     short-crested,     in     terminal     racemes. 


BITTER  POLYGALA.  133 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 


Polygala  rubella,    Muhlenberg,    Catal. — Willd.    iii.    875. 
PuRSH,  ii.  464. — Polygala  polygama  ? — ^Nuttall,  genera,  ii,  87. 


PLATE  LIV. 


Fig.  1.  Polygala  rubella. 

Fig.  2.  d  flower. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx, 

Fig.  4.  Corolla  magnified. 

Fig.  5.  Fruit  of  ditto. 

Fig.  6.  Body  of  stamens^ 

Fig.  7.  Pistil 


NYMPHiEA  ODORATA, 


Sweet  scented  Water  lily. 
PLATE  LV. 

Ihe  common  Water  lily,  of  Korth  America, 
tery  much  resembles  that  of  Europe  iu  its 
external  form,  but  differs  remarkably  in  the  fine 
fragrance  of  its  flowers,  those  of  the  old  continent 
being  nearly  destitute  of  odour.  It  belongs  to 
a  very  beautiful  tribe  of  aquatic  plants,  a  great 
part  of  which  are  natives  of  the  torrid  zone. 
Those  species  which  support  the  cold  of  our 
northern  latitudes,  are  enabled  to  do  so  only  by 
the  depth  of  water,  under  which  it  is  their  habit 
to  vegetate.  Xature  has  provided  a  sort  of  spon- 
taneous hotbed  for  these  plants,  by  placing  then* 
roots  at  such  a  depth  from  the  surface  of  the 
element  in  which  they  grow,  that  the  frost,  which 
would  otherwise  prove  fatal,  does  not  reach  them 
at  the  coldest  season. 


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SWEET  SCENTED  WATER  LILY.  137 

acuminate,  and  veins  prominent  beneath ;    catyx 
four-leaved,  equal  to  the  petals. — Linnseus   placed 
this  genus  in  his  Miscellanew,  and  Jussieu  with 
the  Hydro charides. 

The   stalks,  both  of  the  leaves   and  flowers, 
spring  directly  from   the   root.      They   vary    in 
length  from  one  foot  to  five  or  six,  according  to 
the  depth  of  the  water.     The  petioles  are  some- 
what semicircular,  the  scapes  round.     Both   are 
perforated  throughout  by  long  tubes  or  air-vessels 
which  serve  to  float  them.     The  leaves,  which 
swim  on  the   surface,   are   nearly  round  with   a 
cleft  or  sinus  extending  to   the   centre,  at  which 
the  petiole  is  inserted  in  a  peltate  manner.     The 
lobes   on  each  side  of  this   sinus   are  prolonged 
into  an  acute  point.     The  upper  surface  is  of  a 
bright  glossy   green   almost  without  veins  ;    the 
lower  surface  is  reddish  and  marked  by  a  multi- 
tude of  strong  prominent  veins   diverging  from 
the  centre.     The  calyx  has  four  lanceolate  leaves, 
green  without  and  white  within.     Petals   nume- 
rous,  lanceolate,   of  a   delicate    whiteness,    with 
sometimes  a  tinge  of  lake  on  the  outside.     Sta- 
mens   numerous,   yellow,   in    several  rows  ;    the 
filaments  dilated,  especially  the  outer  ones,  so  as 
to  resemble  petals  ;  the  anthers   in  two  longitu- 
dinal cells  growing  to  the  filaments   and  opening 


138  KYMPH^A  OD GRATA. 

inwardly.  The  stigma  has  from  twelve  to  twent j 
four  rajs,  very  much  resembling  abortive  anthers, 
at  first  incurved,  afterwards  spreading.  At  the 
centre  is  a  solid  hemispherical  protuberance, 
usually  called  a  nectary,  but  which  appears  to  me 
more  like  the  true  stigma. 

The  roots  of  this  plant  are  among  the  strong* 
est  astringents,  and  we  have  scarcely  any  native 
vegetable  which  affords  more  decided  evidence 
of  this  property.  When  fresh,  if  chewed  in  the 
mouth,  they  are  extremely  styptic  and  bitter. 
Their  decoction  instantly  strikes  a  jet  black  colour 
with  sulphate  of  iron,  and  yields  a  dense,  white 
precipitate  to  a  solution  of  gelatin.  With  alcohol 
it  deposites  a  slight  flocculent  substance  resem- 
bling fsecula.  Tannin  and  gallic  acid  in  large 
quantities  are  to  be  considered  its  most  character- 
istic ingredients. 

The  flowers  have  a  delicious  odour,  hardly 
surpassed  by  any  perfume  which  the  summer 
produces.  This  fragrance  is  perfect  only  when 
the  flowers  are  fresh,  and,  as  they  droop,  becomes 
contaminated  with  the  common  smell  of  aquatic 
plants.  It  is  peculiar  in  its  character,  and 
resembles  that  of  no  other  plant  with  which  I  am 
acquainted.  I  have  several  times  attempted  to 
separate  this   perfume  by  distillation  both  with 


SWEET   SCENTED  WATER  LILY,  139 

water  and  spirit,  but  have  never  succeeded  in 
preserving  it  in  the  faintest  degree.  It  is  much 
more  fugacious  than  the  perfume  of  roses,  and 
seems  to  be  destroyed  by  the  application  of  heat. 
Possibly  the  employment  of  a  large  quantity  of 
flowers  at  a  time  might  yield  a  better  product. 
The  stamens  appear  more  odorous  than  the 
petals,  or  at  least  preserve  their  odour  longer  in 
drying. 

The  roots  of  the  water  lily  are  kept  by  most 
of  our  apothecaries,  and  are  much  used  by  the 
common  people  in  the  composition  of  poultices. 
They  are,  no  doubt,  often  injudiciously  applied  to 
suppurating  tumours,  since  their  astringency 
must  be  rather  discutient,  than  promotive  of 
suppuration.  They  are  occasionally  used  by 
physicians  in  cases  where  astringent  applications 
are  called  for,  and  answer  a  purpose  somewhat 
analogous  to  that  of  lead  poultices  and  alum 
curds.  The  roots,  which,  when  fresh,  are  large 
and  fleshy  ;  in  drying,  lose  a  great  part  of  their 
weight   and  size,  becoming  spongy  and  friable. 

The  Mymphsea  alba  of  Europe,  which  appears 
perfectly  similar  in  its  qualities  to  the  American 
plant,  was  celebrated  by  the  ancients,  [^J^ote  C] 
as  an  antaphrodisiac,  and  as  a  remedy  in  dysen- 
tery and  some  other  morbid  discharges.  To  the 
11) 


140  NYMPHJBA  OD GRATA. 

latter  purpose  its  astringency  might,  in  same 
instances,  make  it  well  suited.  The  roots  and 
seeds  of  the  Nymphsea  lotus  were^  used  by  the 
ancient  Egyptians  as  bread. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Njmphsea  odorata,  WiLLD.  <S(p.  ^?.  ii.  1153. — Bot.  Mag.  819. — > 
Bot.  Bepository,  297. — Pursh,  ii.  368. — Nympheea  alba,  Michaux, 
i.  311. — Walter,  ClaroL  155.  Castalia  pudica,  Salisbury,  dnnah 
of  BoU  ii.  71. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCE. 

Cutler,  Amer,  Transactions,  i.  456. 


PLATE  LV. 

Fig.  1.  Leaf  and  jloiver  of  J\'ymp}icea  odorata. 

Fig.  2.  Different  stamens  from  the  same  fiower. 

Fig.  3.  Stigma. 

Fig.  4.  Section  of  the  germ. 

Fig.  5.  *9  cell  of  the  germ  magnified. 

Fig.  6.  Section  of  the  scape. 

Fig.  7.  Section  of  petiole. 


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PEINOS  VERTICILLATUS. 


Black  Alder. 

TLATE  LVI, 

After  tlie  leaves  have  fallen  in  autumn,  this 
shrub  becomes  conspicuous  by  its  glossy  scarlet 
berries,  v^hich  adhere  in  bunches,  for  a  long  time, 
to  the  sides  of  the  branches.  Of  the  objects 
which  impart  any  liveliness  to  this  season  of 
decay,  the  most  noticeable  are  those  which  change 
the  hue  of  their  leaves  from  green  to  red,  as  the 
oaks,  the  vaccinia,  ^c.  those  which  flower  late,  as 
the  Hamamelis,  and  those  whose  fruit  attains  to 
maturity  under  the  influence  of  frost,  and  appears 
fresh  and  vegetating,  while  other  things  are 
withering  about  them.  The  species  of  Prinos 
are  of  the  last  description. 

This  genus  consists  of  shrubs,  a  part  of  which 
are  deciduous,  and  a  part  evergreen ;  bearing 
sin.all   lateral  or  axillary  flowers.      It  is   nearly 


14^  PRINOS  VERTICILLATUS. 

related  to  the  Ilices  or  HoUys,  differing  chiefly 
in  the  number  of  its  parts.  Its  character  is 
formed  by  a  sio?  cleft  cahjac^  a  monopetaloiis 
subrotate  si^c  cleft  corolla,  and  a  sia^  seeded  berry. 
The  Prinos  yerticillutus  has  its  leaves  deciduous, 
oval,  serrate,  acuminate,  slightly  pubescent  be- 
neath ;  fiowers  ancillary,  aggregate. 

These  shrubs 'have  usually  been  referred  to 
Heccandria  Monogynia.  The  present  species  and 
some  others  having  different  flowers  on  separate 
plants,  Michaux  was  induced  to  place  them  in 
Dicecia.  The  natural  orders  to  which  they  are 
assigned  are  Bumosce  of  Linn,  and  Rhamni  of 
Juss. 

The  Black  Alder,  for  so  the  shrub  is  usually 
called,  is  found  in  swamps  and  about  the  edges  of 
streams  and  ponds  from  Canada  to  the  Southern 
states.  It  is  irregular  in  its  growth,  but  most 
commonly  forms  bunches  six  or  eight  feet  in 
height.  The  leaves  are  alternate  or  scattered, 
on  short  petioles,  oval,  acute  at  base,  sharply 
serrate,  acuminate,  with  some  hairiness,  particu- 
larly on  the  veins  underneath.  The  flowers  are 
small,  white,  growing  in  little  tufts  or  imperfect 
umbels,  which  are  nearly  sessile  in  the  axils  of 
the  leaves.  Calyx  small,  six  cleft^  persistent. 
Corolla  raonopetalous,  spreading,  without  a  tube. 


BLACK  ALDER.  145 

have  no  more  striking  operation  ;  and  in  this 
property  they  differ  in  a  degree  somewhat  pro- 
portionate to  their  bitterness  and  astriugency. 
Judging  by  these  criterions,  the  Prinos  is  not 
entitled  to  hold  a  very  exalted  rank  in  the  list  of 
tonics.  As  a  bitter  it  is  at  best  but  of  the  second 
rate,  and  in  astringency  it  falls  below  a  multitude 
of  the  common  forest  trees. 

The  berries  are  recommended  by  the  writers 
above  cited,  as  possessing  the  same  tonic  proper- 
ties with  the  bark.  They  certainly  possess  some 
activity,  which,  in  large  quantity,  is  not  of  the 
tonic  kind.  I  have  known  sickness  and  vomiting 
produced  in  a  person  by  eating  a  number  of  these 
berries  found  in  the  woods  in  autumn. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Prinos  verticillatus,  Linn,  Sp.  pi. — Pursh,  i.  220. — Prinos  Gro- 
aovii,  MioHAux,  ii.  236. — Prinos  padifolius,  Willd.  Enum.  Berol. 
394. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

B.  S.  Barton,  Collections,  ii,  d,— Thacher,  Lisp.  324, 


i4!^  PKINOS  VERTICILLATUS. 


PLATE  LVI. 

Fiff.  t.  Prinos  verticillatus,  a  branch  injlower:^ 

Fig.  2.  Ripe  berries. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx  magnified. 

Fig.  i.  The  rest  of  the  flower  ditto. 

Fig.  5.  Stamen  of  the  barren  flower  magnified. 

Fig.  6.  Crerm  of  the  fertile  flower  dittOi 


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SABBATIA  AN'GULAEIS, 


American  Centcnwy, 

PLATE  LVIL 

Under  the  name  of  Chironia  cmgnlavis^  this 
plant  has  been  familiar  to  physicians  in  the 
United  States  as  a  native  bitter.  As  it  wants  the 
most  distinguishing  cliaracters  of  Chironia,  while 
it  has  others  of  a  very  different  kind,  particularly 
in  the  anthers  and  stigma  ;  I  have  followed  the 
example  of  Pursh  and  others  in  referring  it  to  the 
genus  Sabbatia  of  Adauson. 

This  genus  is   characterised  by  a  persistent 

calyx  from  five  to  twelve  parted ;  a  corolla  from 

five   to  twelve  parted;    anthers  finally  revolute ; 

stigma    tivo  parted^  spiral ;    capsule   one    celled. 

The  Sabbatia  angular  is  differs   from  the  rest  of 

the    genus   in    being  erect^    the   leaves    clasping, 

peduncles  elongated  and  corymbose,  segments  of 

the  calyx  lanceolate,  half  as  long  as   the  corolla  ; 

stem  square  and  tvinged. 
20 


148  SABBATIA  ANGULAKIS. 

Class  Feiitantlria,  order  Monogynia ;  natural 
orders  Bosucece^  Linn.     Gentiance,  Juss. 

This  plant  grows  in  damp  rich  soils  through" 
out  the  Middle  and  Southern  states,  and  is  most 
commonly  known  by  the  name  of  Centaury.  It 
is  commonly  from  one  to  two  feet  high.  The 
stem  is  erect,  smooth,  square,  with  the  angles 
winged.  Branches  axillary,  opposite.  The  leaves 
are  opposite  and  ovate,  but  vary  in  length  and 
width.  They  are  heart-shaped  at  base,  clasping 
half  the  stem,  nerved,  smooth,  entire,  acute. 
Flowers  terminal,  forming  a  large  corymb.  Tube 
of  the  calyx  angular,  Avith  five  broad  segments. 
Corolla  five  parted  with  oval  segments  twice  as 
long  as  the  calyx.  The  anthers  are  oblong  and 
slightly  recurved  at  the  time  when  the  flower 
first  opens.  After  shedding  their  pollen  they 
become  revolute  and  curl  up,  but  never  assume 
the  spiral  form  like  the  anthers  of  Chironia. 
Germ  ovate ;  style  longer  than  the  stamens, 
declined ;  stigma  two  parted,  the  segments 
separate  at  first,  but  gradually  becoming  twisted 
spirally  together.  Capsule  one  celled,  two 
valved. 

Every  part  of  this  plant  is  a  pure  and  very 
strong  bitter.  In  this  quality,  as  well  as  in  its 
medicinal  properties,  it  is  resembled  by  several 


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ERYTHRONIUM  AMERICANUM. 


Common  Erythronium, 

TLJITE  LVIIL 

Jb  OR  a  considerable  time  the  genus  Erythro- 
nium was  considered  as  containing  only  one 
species,  the  E.  dens  canis  of  Europe  and  Asia. 
The  American  plant  was  considered,  by  Michaux, 
as  a  variety  of  the  European,  differing  only  in 
colour.  Later  botanists  have,  with  propriety, 
separated  it,  and  besides  this,  one  or  two  other 
American  species  have  been  added  to  the  genus.* 

The  natural  order,  called  Liliacew  by  Linnseus, 
and  Lilia  by  Jussieu,  is  perhaps  not  exceeded  by 
any  other,  in  the  uniform  elegance  of  all  its  spe- 

*  My  friend  Mr.  F.  Boott  discovered  a  new  species  of  Erythro- 
nium on  the  Camel's  rump  mountain  in  Vermont,  which  he  calls  E. 
bracteatum.  Its  character  is  E.  foliis  incequalibus,  scapo  bracteato. 
In  all  the  specimens  gathered  by  that  gentleman,  the  leaves  were 
very  unequal,  one  being  twice  the  size  of  the  other ;  the  scape  had 
also  a  lanceolate  bracte  near  the  top.  The  flower  was  yellow  and 
about  half  the  size  of  E,  timericanum. 


152  ERYTHRONIUM  AMERICANUM. 

cies.  The  Lilj,  Tulip,  Crown  imperial,  and 
Gloriosa  are  specimens  of  this  order.  They 
belong  to  the  same  artificial  class  and  order  Heoj- 
andna  trigynia,  and  have  a  close  affinity  in  all  the 
parts  of  their  structure.  The  Erythronium, 
which  is  generally  called,  I  know  not  for  what 
reason,  Dog^s  tooth  violet,  is  one  of  the  smallest  of 
the  order. 

This  genus  has  no  calyoc.  lis  corolla  is 
inferior,  sioc  petalled  ;  the  three  inner  petals  with 
a  callous  prominence  on  each  edge  near  the  hase. 
The  common  American  plant  has  its  scape  naked^ 
its  leaves  lanceolate  and  involute  at  the  point;  and 
its  style  club-shaped  and  undivided.  It  is  an  early 
flowering  plant,  being  in  blossom  in  the  first  part 
of  May.  It  grows  in  woods  and  fields  in  the 
Northern  and  Middle  states. 

The  root  is  a  solid  bulb,  situated  deep  in  the 
ground,  brown  outside,  and  white  and  homoge- 
neous within.  The  whole  plant  is  smooth  and 
glossy.  Scape  naked,  slender.  Leaves  two, 
nearly  equal,  lanceolate,  veinless,  of  a  dark 
brownish  green,  clouded  with  irregular  spots, 
sheathing  the  scape  with  their  base,  and  termi- 
nating in  an  obtuse  callous  point.  Flower  solitary, 
drooping.  Petals  six,  lanceolate,  yellow,  the 
three  outermost  partly  crimson  on  the  outside, 


COMMON  ERYTHRONIUM.  155 

The  leaves  of  tlie  American  Ervtlironiuni 
are  suid  to  be  more  active  than  the  root,  but  on 
this  subject  I  am  not  fully  informed.  It  is 
probable  that  the  recent  leaves  have  more  activity 
than  the  dry. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Erythronium  Americanum,  Ker,  UoL  J/ao*.  t.  1113. — Nuttall, 
Genera,  i.  223. — E.  lanceolatum,  Pursh,  i.  230. — E.  longifolium, 
PoiRET,  Encijcl.  Methodique. — E.  flavunij  Smith,  Rees^  Cycl. — E. 
dens  canis,  Michaux,  Flora,  i.  198. 


PLATE  LVIII. 

Fig.  1.  Erythronium  Jimericanum,  the  flower  rather  more  droop- 
ing than  common. 
Fig.  2.  One  of  the  inner  petals. 
Fig.  3.  Stamen. 
Fig.  4.  Pistil. 
Fig.  5.  Stigma  magnified. 
Fig.  6.  Moot. 

SI 


XAI^THOXYLUM  FRAXmEUM. 


Prickly  Jisli. 


PLATE  LIX, 

A  HE  Prickly  Ash  is  a  shrub  of  middling 
height,  found  in  woods  and  moist  or  shady  decliv- 
ities in  the  Northern,  Middle  and  Western  states. 
It  is  rare  in  Massachusetts  and  the  states  north 
of  it,  its  localities  being  very  circumscribed. 
After  I  had  taken  pains  to  procure  specimens 
from  Connecticut,  I  accidentally  discovered  a 
thicket  of  the  shrubs  in  a  wood  in  Medford,  six 
miles  from  Boston. 

Late  botanists  have  placed  the  genus  Xan- 
thoxylum  in  Pentandria  Pentctgynia,  although  it 
is  dioecious,  or  rather  polygamous.  Its  calycc  is 
inferior,  Jive  parted  ;  corolla  none  ;  capsules  from 
three  to  five,  one  seeded.  The  X  fraccineiim  is 
2iricMy,  the  leaves  pinnate  ;  leafets  ovate,  siiben- 
tire,  sessile,  equal  at  base  ;  umhels  accillary. 


.*,.*..^ 


1^  :.:f 


Fvkkli. 


Fiivkiy    Asli  4 


'Q.U   oi'  luidt^iiiis; 


^ein  Massiicuuseiia  ana 


iiiliX    U..}Lic\ . 


6 


J/) 


PRICKLY  ASH.  109 

green  and  dried  bark.  The  water  in  wiiich  the 
bark  is  boiled  has  a  peculiar  pungent  heat,  which 
is  not  perceived  when  the  liquid  is  first  taken 
into  the  mouth,  but  gradually  developes  itself  by 
a  burning  sensation  on  the  tongue  and  fauces. 
It  retains  this  acrimony  after  standing  a  week 
and  more.  The  leaves  do  not  appear  to  possess 
the  pungency  of  the  bark,  and  impart  no  acri- 
mony to  the  water  in  which  they  are  boiled. 
They  abound  in  mucilage,  which  coagulates  in 
large  films  when  alcohol  is  added  to  the  decoction. 
They  seem  to  possess  more  astringency  than  the 
bark,  and  strike  a  black  colour  with  sulphate  of 
iron,  while  solutions,  made  from  the  bark,  are  but 
moderately  changed  by  the  same  test.  The 
alcoholic  tincture  of  the  bark  is  bitter  and  very 
acrid.  Its  transparency  is  diminished  by  adding 
water,  and  after  standing  some  time  it  becomes 
very  turbid.  Whether  the  acrimony  of  this 
shrub  resides  in  a  peculiar  acrid  principle,  or 
whether  it  belongs  to  the  resin  and  becomes 
miscible  with  water  in  consequence  of  the  presence 
of  mucilage,  may  be  considered  as  yet  uncertain. 
The  Prickly  ash  has  a  good  deal  of  reputa- 
tion in  the  United  States  as  a  remedy  in  chronic 
rheumatism.  In  that  disease  its  operation  seems 
analogous  to   that  of  Mezereon  and  Guaiacum, 


160  XANTHOXYLUM  FRAXINEUM. 

which  it  nearly  resembles  in  its  sensible  proper- 
ties. It  is  not  only  a  popular  remedy  in  the 
country,  but  many  physicians  place  great  reliance 
on  its  powers  in  rheumatic  complaints,  so  that 
apothecaries  generally  give  it  a  place  in  their 
shops.  It  is  most  frequently  given  in  decoction, 
an  ounce  being  boiled  in  about  a  quart  of  water. 
Dr.  George  Hayward,  of  Boston,  informs  me,  that 
he  formerly  took  this  decoction  in  his  own  case 
of  chronic  rheumatism  with  evident  relief.  It 
was  prepared  as  above  stated,  and  about  a  pint 
taken  in  the  course  of  a  day,  diluted  with  water 
sufficient  to  render  it  palatable  by  lessening  the 
pungency.  It  was  warm  and  grateful  to  the 
stomach,  produced  no  nausea  nor  effect  upon  the 
bowels,   and   excited  little,  if  any,    perspiration. 

1  have  given  the  powdered  bark  in  doses  of 
ten  and  twenty  grains  in  rheumatic  affections 
with  considerable  benefit.  A  sense  of  heat  was 
produced  at  the  stomach  by  taking  it,  but  no 
other  obvious  effect.  In  one  case  it  effectually 
removed  the  complaint  in  a  few  days.  I  have 
known  it,  however,  to  fail  entirely  in  obstinate 
cases,  sharing  the  opprobrium  of  failure  with  a 
variety  of  other  remedies. 

The  Prickly  ash  has  been  employed  by 
physicians  in  some  cases  as  a  topical  stimulant. 


PRICKLY  ASH.  161 

It  produces  a  powerful  effect  when  applied  to 
secreting  surfaces  and  to  ulcerated  parts.  In  the 
West  Indies  much  use  has  been  made  of  the 
bark  of  another  species,  the  Xanthoxylum  Clava 
Herculis,  in  malignant  ulcers,  both  internally 
administered  and  externally  applied.  Commu- 
nications relating  to  its  efficacy  may  be  found  in 
the  eighth  volume  of  the  Medical  and  Physical 
Journal,  and  the  fifth  volume  of  the  Transactions 
of  the  Medical  Society  of  London. 

By  an  ambiguity  which  frequently  grows  out 
of  the  use  of  common  or  English  names  of  plants, 
J:he  Jlralia  spinosa,  a  very  different  shrub,  has 
been  confounded  with  the  Xanthoxylum.  The 
Aralia,  called  Jhigelica  tree,  and  sometimes 
FricMy  ash,  is  exclusively  a  native  of  the  warmer 
parts  of  the  United  States,  being  not  found,  to  my 
knowledge,  in  the  Atlantic  states  north  of  Yir- 
ginia.  Its  flavour  and  pungency,  as  well  as  its 
general  appearance,  are  different  from  those  of 
the  true  Prickly  ash.  It  is  nevertheless  a  valu- 
able stimulant  and  diaphorf;tic,  and  in  Mr.  Elli- 
ott's Southern  Botany,  we  are  told  that  it  is  an 
efficacious  emetic.  For  the  latter  purpose  it  is 
given  in  large  doses,  in  infusion. 

The    name    Xanthoxylum,    signifying   yellotv 
woody  was  originally  given  by  Mr,  Golden.     The 


163  XANTHOXYLUM  PRAXINEUM. 

spelling  has  since  been  unaccountably  changed 
to  Zanihoccylon  in  a  majority  of  the  books  which 
contain  the  name.  The  etymology,  however,  can 
leave  no  doubt  of  the  true  orthography. 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 

Xanthoxjlum  fraxineum,  Smith,  iZees'  Cycl.  JVo.  12. — Z.  fraxi- 
neum,  Pursh,  i.  209. — Z.  clava  Herculis  /3.  Linx^us,  Sp.  pi. — Z. 
raraiflorum,  Michaux,  Flora,  ii.  235. — ^Fagara  fraxini  folio,  Duha- 
MEL,  Arb.  V.  t.  97. 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

B.  S.  Barton,  Collections,  i.  25,  52 ;  ii.  38. — Thacher,  Dispen- 
satory, sub  Aralia  spinosa. 


PLATE  LIX. 

Fig.  1.  Xanthoxylum  fraxineum  in  fruit. 

Fig.  2.  %8.  barren  branch  in  flower. 

Fig.  3.  Fertile  branch  in  flower. 

Fig.  4.  Barren  floiver  magnified. 

Fig.  5.  Stamen,  do. 

Fig.  6.  Abortive  germ  of  the  barren  flower,  do. 

Fig.  7.  Fertile  flower,  do. 

Fig.  8.  Pistils  of  ditto,  do. 

Fig.  9.  Perfect  flower,  do. 

Fig.  10.  Capsule,  do.  beginning  to  open. 

Fig.  11.  Seed,  do. 


i  / 


States. 


•er 


:l  :c 


HUMULUS  LUPULUS. 


Common  Hop. 

PLATE  LX. 

'  Jlhe  Hop  vine  is  not  only  a  native  of  most 
countries  in  Europe,  but  is  decidedly  indigenous 
in  America.  It  often  occurs  wild  in  the  Atlantic 
states,  and  was  found,  by  Mr.  Nuttall,  growing 
spontaneously  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri. 
Sir  J.  E.  Smith  has  quoted  an  old  distich,  which 
seems  to  be  illustrative  of  the  period  of  its  intro- 
duction into  practical  use  in  England,  about 
Henry  the  YIII's  time  ;  although  he  has  no  doubt 
of  its  being  really  native  in  that  country.*  The 
Hop  being  a  medicinal  article  of  some  conse- 
quence, and  one  generally  retained  by  the  Phar- 
macopoeias I  there  is  a  propriety  in  introducing 
it  in  a  Medical  Botany  of  the  United  States. 

*  "  Turkeys,  Carp,  Hops,  Pickerel  and  Beer 
Came  into  England  all  in  one  year." 


.m 


164?  HUMULUS  LUPULUS. 

The  genus  Humiilus,  which  has  only  a  single 
species,  is  found  in  the  Linnsean  class  Bioecia^ 
and  order  Pentandria.  It  belongs  to  the  natural 
orders  Scabridce,  Linn,  and  Urtieoe,  Juss.  Its 
barren  flowers  have  a  calycc  of  jive  leaves  and 
no  corolla.  The  fertile  flowers  have  for  their 
calya?  the  scales  of  an  ament,  each  two  flowered  ; 
corolla  of  one  petal,  lateral ;  styles  two ;  seeds 
solitary,  invested  with  the  corolla. 

The  Hop  vine  is  an  ornamental  plant,  much 
more  frequently  seen  cultivated  than  wild,  and 
climbing  to  a  great  height.  The  root  is  peren- 
nial. Stems  annual,  twining  from  right  to  left, 
angular,  rough,  with  minute  reflexed  prickles. 
Leaves  opposite,  on  long  winding  petioles,  the 
smaller  ones  heart-shaped,  the  larger  ones  three 
or  five  lobed,  serrated,  veiny  and  extremely 
rough.  Flowering  branches  axillary,  angular 
and  rough.  Stipules  two  or  four,  between  the 
petioles,  ovate,  reflexed.  Flowers  numerous,  and 
of  a  greenish  colour.  Those  of  the  barren  plants 
are  very  numerous  and  panicled.  Their  calyx 
has  five  oblong,  obtuse,  spreading,  concave  leaves. 
Corolla  wanting.  Stamens  short,  the  anthers 
oblong,  and  bursting  by  two  terminal  pores. 
The  fertile  flowers,  growing  on  a  separate  plant, 
are  in  the  form  of  an  anient,  having  each  pair  of 


COMMON  HOP.  167 

leaves  of  the  plant,  strike   a  black  colour  when 
treated  with  that  salt. 

Hops  have  long  been  made  an  ingredient  in 
malt  liquors  on  account  of  the  agreeable  flavour 
they  communicate,  and  also  from  a  preservative 
quality  which  they  are  supposed  to  exert  in 
preventing  acescency  in  those  liquids.  Dr.  Ives 
has  shown  that  a  prodigious  saving  of  expense 
might  be  made  by  brewers,  if  this  powder  were 
separated  at  an  early  period,  and  used  instead 
of  the  hops  themselves.  He  was  able,  without 
much  trouble,  to  separate  fourteen  ounces  of  the 
powder  from  six  pounds  of  hops,  and  concludes, 
that  if  the  hops  were  treated,  during  the  process 
of  gathering  and  drying,  with  a  view  to  the 
preservation  of  the  powder,  they  would  yield  at 
least  one  pound  in  six.  He  has  pointed  out  a 
vast  saving,  which  would  take  place  in  the 
expense  of  transportation  and  storage,  if  an 
article  containing  all  the  strength  of  the  hop,  and 
occupying  but  small  compass,  were  substituted 
for  one  which  is  of  more  than  twenty  times  its 
bulk.  An  enormous  loss  would  farther  be  pre- 
vented, which  now  takes  place  from  the  absorption 
produced  by  the  hops,  it  being  calculated  that  one 
barrel  of  wort  is  absorbed  by  every  sixty  pounds 
of  hops  used  in  brewing.     He  enumerates  still 


168  HUMULUS  LUPULUS. 

farther  advantages  which  would  result  from  the 
easier  preservation  of  the  article,  its  superior 
flavour,  and  the  diminished  chance  of  adulteration, 
arising  from  reduction  of  price.* 

The  researches  of  Dr.  Ives  are  entitled  to 
great  commendation,  as  they  seem  to  promise  a 
highly  economical  improvement  in  an  important 
branch  of  domestic  manufacture.  In  Great 
[Britain,  where  malt  liquors  are  more  extensively 
consumed  than,  perhaps,  in  any  other  country, 
the  saving  must  he  an  object  of  more  conse- 
quence, than  with  us.  It  remains  to  be  ascer- 
tained whether  any  eflfectual  and  economical 
method  of  separating  the  powder  from  the  stro- 
biles can  be  brought  into  practical  use. 

In  ratedical  practice  the  hop  has  been  found 
a  decided  and  useful  tonic.  A  fermented 
decoction,  known  by  the  name  of  hop  beer,  and 
usually  formed  from  this  article  with  the  simple 
addition  of  treacle,  is  much  used  in  the  New 
England  states.  When  made  sufficiently  bitter 
with  the  hops,  and  taken  as  a  common  drink  at 
meals,  it  promotes  digestion  more  than  any  of 

*  The  term  Lupulin,  by  which  Dr.  Ives  designates  the  powder 
of  the  hop,  is  convenient  and  not  objectionable  for  practical  use. 
As  a  chemical  term,  however,  it  does  not  agree  with  those  of  similar 
termination  employed  in  the  science;  which  express  proximate 
principles  of  vegetables  &c.  and  not  heterogeneous  bodies. 


COMMON  HOP.  ,109 

the  table  liquors  in  common  use.  It  is  service- 
able in  dyspeptic  complaints,  and  is  particularly 
adapted  to  obviate  the  lassitude  and  debility  felt 
by  persons  of  relaxed  habit  in  the  spring,  or  on 
the  approach  of  warm  weather.  A  simple  infu- 
sion has  been  employed  for  this  purpose,  but  the 
fermented  liquor  derives  a  quality  from  the 
presence  of  carbonic  acid,  which  renders  it  more 
agreeable,  both  to  the  palate  and  stomach. 

The  bitter  principle  of  the  Hop,  in  which  its 
tonic  property  appears  to  reside,  is  abundantly 
soluble  in  water.  Alcohol  not  only  extracts  this 
portion,  but  dissolves  also  the  resinous  constitu- 
ents of  the  medicine.  The  tincture  of  hops  is 
found  to  be  bitter  and  aromatic,  and  to  exert  not 
only  a  strengthening  effect  on  the  viscera,  but 
to  influence  considerably  the  nervous  system  in 
the  character  of  an  anodyne  and  soporific  medi- 
cine. 

I  have  employed  the  tincture  of  hops  very 
often  in  practice,  and  have,  on  the  whole,  had 
quite  as  much  reason  to  be  satisfied  with  its  tonic 
operation,  as  with  that  of  any  of  the  bitter  tinc- 
tures in  common  use.  Its  narcotic  power  is 
slight  when  compared  with  that  of  opium,  yet  it 
nevertheless  has,  in  certain  cases,  a  decided 
property  of  procuring  sleep.     I  have  particularly 


170  HUMULUS  LUPULUS. 

found  it  effectual  in  the  case  of  persons  advanced 
in  life,  who  had  heen  accustomed  to  the  moderate, 
but  increasing  use  of  spirituous  liquors  ;  and  who 
at  length  liave  considered  it  impossible  to  pro- 
cure a  quiet  night's  sleep  without  a  preparatory 
draught  of  this  kind  taken  warm  at  bed  time. 
In  such  cases  I  have  found  a  teaspoonful  of  the 
tincture  of  hops  to  go  as  far  in  its  composing 
effect,  as  two  or  three   ounces  of  ardent  spirit. 

Mr.  Freake,  who  published  in  the  Medical  and 
Physical  Journal  some  account  of  the  properties 
of  this  medicine,  states  that  he  had  found  it  de- 
cidedly advantageous  in  erysipelas,  in  gout  and  in 
some  other  diseases.  He  considers  its  beneficial 
effects  to  arise  from  its  alterative  and  tonic  power 
on  the  system.  He  thinks  it  sedative,  aperient 
and  diuretic  ;  and  a  good  antiseptic  and  corrobo- 
rant in  bowel  complaints.  In  his  practice  he  had 
found  pain  to  be  eased  and  rest  procured  with 
this  medicine,  when  opium  did  not  succeed. 

Dr.  Maton  found  that  besides  allaying  pain 
and  procuring  sleep,  the  preparations  of  hops 
were  capable  of  reducing  the  frequency  of  the 
pulse,  and  increasing  its  firmness  in  a  direct 
manner.  One  drachm  of  the  tincture  and  four 
grains  of  the  extract  given  once  in  six  hours  re- 
duced the  pulsations  from  ninety  six  to  sixty  in 


COMMON  HOP.  171 

the  course  of  twenty  l\)ur  hours.  He  found  the 
extract  very  efficacious  in  allaying  the  pain  of 
of  articular  rheumatism. 

Some  experiments  of  Dr.  Bigsby  and  others 
have  not  been  found  to  confirm  the  previous 
character  of  this  article  in  all  the  forea'oinjr 
respects,  and  its  sedative  powers  have  been  called 
in  question.  As  in  most  new  medicines,  its  vir- 
tues have  doubtless  been  exaggerated  by  its  earli- 
est advocates ;  yet  it  is  not  on  this  account  to  be 
discarded  from  use.  Although  the  narcotic 
powers  of  the  hop  are  not  of  the  most  energetic 
kind,  they  nevertheless  do  exist,  and  the  very 
circumstance  of  their  mild  and  temperate  influ- 
ence renders  them,  in  many  cases,  safer  than 
those  of  more  active  drugs. 

In  regard  to  the  lithontriptic  power  which 
has  been  imputed  to  hops  both  alone,  and  through 
the  medium  of  malt  liquors,  it  is  not  probable 
that  they  have  any  operation  of  this  sort,  beyond 
that  of  a  palliative. 

The  external  application  of  hops  has  long  had 
the  popular  reputation  of  being  anodyne  and  com- 
posing. A  pillow  of  hops  is  thought  instrumental 
in  procuring  sleep,  but  with  what  justice  I  am 
unable  to  say.     Poultices  and  fomentations   made 

of  them  are  in  repute  as  sedative  applications  for 

S3 


17^  HUMULUS  LTJPULUS. 

painful  swellings.  When  steeped  in  hot  brandy 
and  held  in  the  mouth,  they  sometimes  relieve 
the  pain  of  a  carious  tooth.  For  all  these  pur- 
poses, no  doubt,  they  often  fail,  yet  there  is  little 
temerity  in  asserting  that  they  are  equally  to  be 
depended  on  in  such  cases,  with  the  rest  of  the 
articles  of  the  Materia  Medica. 

The  most  common  form  for  internal  use, 
where  a  sedative  effect  is  desired,  is  that  of  the 
saturated  tincture.  The  powder  separated  from, 
the  hops  may  be  given  in  substance  with  a  cer- 
tainty of  securing  all  their  medicinal  effects. 
This  powder  must  be  given  in  small  doses,  to  be 
retained  on  the  stomach  and  bowels.  Dr.  Bry- 
orly  found  that  twenty  or  twenty  five  grains  left 
a  sense  of  acrimony  in  tlie  throat,  and  were  fol- 
lowed by  a  good  deal  of  nausea,  and  in  some 
instances  by  purging. 

The  vine  of  the  hop  has  been  appropriated 
to  some  economical  uses.  In  spring,  when  the 
young  shoots  first  emerge  from  the  ground,  they 
are  boiled  and  eaten  as  asparagus,  and  are 
accounted  very  salubrious.  The  fibres  of  the  vine 
are  strong  and  flexible  and  have  been  manufac- 
tured into  a  coarse  cloth  in  Sweden  and  England, 
particularly  for  the  sacks  in  which  the  hops  are 
carried  to  market 


COMMON  HOP.  173 


BOTANICAL  REFERENCES. 


Humulus  lupulus,  Linn.  Sp.  pi. — Smith,  Engl.  Bot.  t.  427. — ■ 
Miller,  Illustrations,  t.  88. — Michaux,  ii. — Pursh,  i.  199. — Nut- 
tall,  ii.  237. — Lupulus  mas  et  fBemina,  Ray,  Syn.  137» 


MEDICAL  REFERENCES. 

Freake,  Med.  and  Phys.  Journal,  xiii.  432. — Thompson,  Lon- 
don  Dispensatory,  200. — Bigsby,  London  Medical  Repository,  v.  97« 
— Bryorly,  Inaug,  Diss.  Philad.  1803. — Ives,  in  SiUhnan''s  Jour 
nal,  ii.  302. 


PLATE  LX. 

Fig.  1.  Humulus  lupulus  in  fruit. 

Fig.  2.  Fertile  flowers. 

Fig.  3.  Calyx  and  pistil  of  do.  (the  corolla  omitted  by  mistake 

of  the  engraver.) 
Fig.  4.  Barren  flowers. 
Fig.  5.  Stamen  magnified. 


NOTES. 


JVofe  Jl. 


Banunculi,  quod  aliqui  apium  agreste  nominant,  plura  quidem 
sunt  genera :  at  vis  tamen  omnibus  una,  acris  scilicet  ac  vehementer 
exulcerans.  Ac  unum  quidem  coriandri  foliis  constat,  sed  latioribus, 
subalbidis  et  pinguibus:  flore  luteo,  interdiim  purpureo.  Caulis 
minime  crassus  est,  sed  cubitum  altus.  Radice  nititur  exigua,  Can- 
dida et  amara,  adnatis  ceu  capillamentis,  hellebori  modo,  fibrata: 
juxta  fluenta  nascitur.  Alterum  est  lanuginosius,  longioreque 
caule,  pluribus  foliorum  incisuris,  plurimum  in  Saridinia  proveniens, 
acerrimum,  quod  etiam  sylvestre  apium  appellant.  Est  et  tertium 
valde  parvum  et  odore  gravi;  flore  aureo.  Quartum  simile  huic, 
flore  lacteo.  Folia  et  caules  tenelli  vim  habent  illitu  exulcerandi,  et 
usque  adeo  urendi,  ut  etiam  crustas  cum  dolore  inducant,  Quare 
scabros  ungues  auferunt,  psoras  removent,  stigmata  delent:  itemque 
formicationes  ac  pensiles  verrucas  et  alopecias  ad  breve  tempus  im- 
posita  tollunt.  Quin  et  repente  eorum  decocto  perniones  foventur. 
Radix  vero  sicca  tritaque,  sternutamenta  ciet,  naribus  admota: 
dentium  quoque  dolores  appensa  levat,  ipsos  tamen  rumpit. 

Bioscorides.  Interp.  Sarraceni,  Lib.  ii.  Cap.  206. 

JSTote  B, 

Sponte  jam  patet,  internum  Euphorbii  usum  periculo  plenum 
esse.  Sed  confirmant  id  infortunia,  specialibus  casibus  subnata. 
Obiit  quidam,  cui  empiricus  illud  imprudenter  exhibuerat,  dysenteria 
eodem  die.  Virgo  venusta  seni  decrepito,  se  invita,  desponsata  ad 
mortem  sibi  conciliandam  pulverem  Euphorbii  ingessit,  unde  dolores 
ventris   atrocigsimi,  hypercatharses   cum  vomitionibus  frequentissi- 


176  NOTES 

mis,  singultu,  ardore  ventnculi  et  faucium  sitique  inextinguibili, 
tandem  sudores  frigidi  et  animi  deliquia:  ex  quibus  angustiis  tamen 
arte  emersit.  Nihilomimus  tamen  quidam  illud  praecipere  ausi 
sunt,  et  instar  drastici,  quod  pituitam,  sed  potentius  aquam,  subdu- 
ceret  in  iis,  quibus  venter  nimis  contra  alia  mitiora  torpet,  vel  ut 
loqui  amant,  friget,  in  hjdropicis  praecipue  admiserunt.  Ita  iEtius, 
Actuarius  et  Arabes  non  nulli.  Galenus  et  Dioscorides  tacent  de  vi 
ejus  purgante.  Omnes  tamen,  qui  ore  captum  concedunt,  cautionem 
summam  injungunt,  et  connubium,  cum  iis,  quae  acrimonium  ejus 
frangere  valent,  vel  prsegressam  mitigationem  desiderant.  Hanc 
ipsam  tentarunt  oleo  amygdalino,  succo  Citri,  phlegmate  Vitriolr, 
Mastiche,  Croco,  Tragacantlia,  Melle  aliisque  bene  multis  secundum 
varium  de  ejus  natura  conceptum.  Sed  ejusmodi  correctiones  vel 
non  sufl&ciunt,  vel,  si  sufficiunt,  ipsam  vim  medicaminis  destruunt. 
Minuere  dosin  vel  rite  illam  diluere,  aliis  exemplis  artis  est.  Ast 
nondum  coraprobata  vera  dosis  est.  Ad  grana  decem  permittit. 
Sennertus,  alias  non  ineptus  subdolse  Euphorbii  vis  judex;  a  grano 
uno  ad  octo  cum  semisse  concedit  Heurnius ;  a  granis  duobus  sex 
vel  octo  GeoiFroy.  Omnibus  hisce  audacior  et  Fallopius,  qui  prse- 
ceptoris  sui  Machesii  auctoritate  et  propria  experientia  ductus,  non 
dubitavit  Euphorbii  vetusti  drachmam  unam,  rarius  scrupulos  qua- 
tuor,  dare.  Mixtum  Cassia  mitius  deprehendit  quam  solutum,  qua 
forma  sitim  intolerabilem  et  evacuationem  largiorem  creavit.  Sed 
praestat  usum  internum  eiusdem  omnino  negligere. 

Murray  Jipperatus  Medicaviinum  sub  Euphorbia  officinarum, 

JS^ote  C, 

Nymphaea  in  paludibus  stagnantibiisque  aquis  nascitur:  folia 
vero  habet  ^gyptiee  fabse  similia,  at  minora  oblongioraque,  plura  ab 
una  eademque  radice  prodeuntia :  quorum  alia  super  aquam  quodam- 
modo  extant,  alia  in  ea  ipsa  demerguntur :  florem  album,  lilio  simi- 
lem,  in  quo  medium  croceiim  est.  At  cum  defloruerit,  calyculus 
rotundus,  figura  malo  aut  papaveris  capiti  simUis,  idemque  niger, 
extuberat :  in  quo  semen  nigi'um,  latum,  densum,  atque  gustanti  len- 
tum  glutinosumve  recluditur.     Caulis  est  leevis,  niinime   cra^sus. 


NOTES.  177 

riiger,  ^gyptise  fabse  cauli  simiiis :  radix  nigra,  scabra,  clavee  simi- 

lis,  quee  autumno  secatur.     Ea  sicca,  cum  vino   pota,  cceliacis  ac 

dysentericis  auxiliatur,  lienemque  consumit.     Stomachi  quoque  ac 

vesicse  doloribus  sedandis  ipsa  I'adix  imponitur,  et  alphos  ex  aqua 

emendat :  alopeciis  etiainnum  cum  pice  imposita  medetur.    Eadem 

contra  veneris  insomnia  bibitur,  siquidem  ilia  in  totiim  adimit :   quin 

et  aliquot  diebus  continenter  epota,  genitale  ita  infirmat,  ut  arrigi 

niinime  possit.     Idem  porro  seminis  quoque  poti  efFectiis  est.     Cge- 

terum  a  njmphis  nymphfete  nomen  sibi  vendicasse  creditur,  quoniam 

loca  amet  aquosa.     Plurima   autem  inuenitur  in   Helide,   Anygro 

amne,  et  in  BcEotise  Aliarto. 

Dioscorides  interp.  Sarraceni,  iii  1481 


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